What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingMenthol
MaskingLauric Acid
CleansingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG-35 Castor Oil
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCitronellol
PerfumingPassiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeAlcohol Denat., Water, Caffeine, Panthenol, Parfum, Menthol, Lauric Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Biotin, Citronellol, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Geraniol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCocoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningVp/Va Copolymer
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCreatine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTerminalia Chebula Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantDextran
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingSodium Chloride
MaskingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingAlcohol
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
MaskingFarnesol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingAdenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningDisodium Uridine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower Oil
PerfumingNardostachys Jatamansi Oil
PerfumingSantalum Spicata Wood Oil
PerfumingWater, Capryloyl Glycine, Glycerin, Cocoyl Proline, Vp/Va Copolymer, Caffeine, Benzyl Alcohol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Butylene Glycol, Creatine, Xanthan Gum, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dextran, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Linalool, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Limonene, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Sodium Chloride, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Farnesol, Citral, Eugenol, Adenosine Phosphate, Disodium Uridine Phosphate, Jasminum Officinale Flower Oil, Nardostachys Jatamansi Oil, Santalum Spicata Wood Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineCitronellol 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 GeraniolLimonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a small, naturally occurring scent molecule found in plants like lavender, coriander, bergamot, and more.
It is one of the two most-used fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and added purely for smell. Since it's not used for a skin benefit, there's no "effective dose". Concentration depends on the fragrance load of the product.
The EU requires it to be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Fresh linalool is a weak sensitizer but air exposure turns some of it into hydroperoxides, which are strong sensitizers. Those oxidation products are the actual allergy concern.
Patch-test clinics see positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxides in about 4% to 12% of dermatitis patients depending on country and test concentration.
Resassuringly, one analytical study found hydroperoxide levels in real fragranced products to be orders of magnitude below what induced sensitization in animal studies with no evidence of oxidation building up during normal storage.
The practical takeaway is that linalool is fine for most people but worth avoiding if you have a confirmed fragrance contact allergy or a badly compromised barrier.
Products stored a long time after opening are also the high-risk scenario since that is when oxidation happens.
The scent of linalool is described as floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water