What's inside
What's inside
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingVanillin
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Coumarin
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingPinene
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingBeta-Caryophyllene
MaskingCitral
PerfumingTerpinolene
PerfumingTerpineol
MaskingAlpha-Terpinene
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingHexadecanolactone
MaskingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantAlcohol Denat., Parfum, Water, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Vanillin, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalyl Acetate, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Coumarin, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Pinene, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Geranyl Acetate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Farnesol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Beta-Caryophyllene, Citral, Terpinolene, Terpineol, Alpha-Terpinene, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Hexadecanolactone, CI 19140, CI 14700
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningHexamethylindanopyran
MaskingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingVanillin
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Limonene
PerfumingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberPinene
MaskingRose Ketone-4
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzaldehyde
MaskingHexadecanolactone
MaskingBeta-Caryophyllene
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingRose Flower Oil/Extract
Geraniol
PerfumingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingTriethanolamine
BufferingAlcohol Denat., Parfum, Water, Hexamethylindanopyran, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Salicylate, Vanillin, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Limonene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Pinene, Rose Ketone-4, Citronellol, Benzaldehyde, Hexadecanolactone, Beta-Caryophyllene, Linalool, Rose Flower Oil/Extract, Geraniol, Geranyl Acetate, Citric Acid, Triethanolamine
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Beta-Caryophyllene is a fragrance. It can cause irritation.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGeranyl Acetate is a fragrance. It can cause irritation.
Hexadecanolactone is a fragrance and isn't fungal acne safe. It can cause irritation.
Hydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".
Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.
Juniperus Virginiana Oil is the volatile oil obtained from the fruits and leaves of the Red Cedar tree. This tree is native to North America.
Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPinene is created by distilling the resin of Pinus trees.
It is a known EU allergen. Long term contact with this ingredient can cause dermatitis.
This ingredient is also known as ISO E Super. It is a synthetic perfuming and masking ingredient.
The manufacturer describes this scnet as amber and woody.
According to the EU, this ingredient is a known allergen and some people may develop skin sensitivity from repeated exposure.
Learn more about Tetramethyl AcetyloctahydronaphthalenesVanillin is the main compound of the vanilla bean. It is naturally occuring but can also be artificially created.
This ingredient exhibits antioxidant properties but is also a known skin-irritant.
Vanillism is the term of contact-dermatitis associated with the vanilla plant. The sap of the vanilla plant triggers skin irritation, swelling, and redness.
Learn more about VanillinWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil is an oil.