What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trisodium EDTA
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingBenzethonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Sulfate
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Methyl Benzoate
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Trisodium EDTA, Isopropyl Palmitate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Benzethonium Chloride, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Sulfate, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Methyl Benzoate, BHT, Tocopherol, Parfum, CI 16035, CI 61570
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tilia Cordata Flower Water
Masking
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaponins
CleansingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Tilia Cordata Flower Water, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Panthenol, Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract, Saponins, Bisabolol, Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, Linalool, Limonene, Farnesol, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Geraniol 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 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 LinaloolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSorbic Acid is a preservative that stops your product from spoiling by stopping microbes from growing.
As a preservative, it's kind of a specialist: it has a broad spectrum of activity against yeast and molds but is weaker against bacteria. That's why it's often paired with another preservative to cover that gap.
This ingredient is also pretty picky about pH; it performs best at pH 6.5 or below.
At the right pH level, sorbic acid is "active" and can slip through the outer wall of a microbe. Once inside, it turns the cell's interior more acidic to shut down the microbe from the inside.
The EU caps this ingredient at 0.6% while the CIR has concluded it's safe at concentrations up to 1%. It's most often used around 0.05-0.2% in cosmetics.
Though this ingredient is considered low-sensitizing and well-tolerated, a very small number of people may have a contact allergy to it. Be sure to patch test if you have a history of allergies towards preservatives.
Learn more about Sorbic AcidWater. 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
