What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tapioca Starch
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium EDTA
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citrus Limon Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tapioca Starch, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Laureth-23, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium EDTA, Oleic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Maltodextrin, Citrus Limon Juice, Ascorbic Acid, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Citronellol, Citral, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Parfum, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Volcanic Sand
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningDaphne Odora Callus Extract
Skin ProtectingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Silica
Abrasive
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ceresin, Glycerin, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Propanediol, Volcanic Sand, Solanum Lycopersicum Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Daphne Odora Callus Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Callus Culture Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Benzyl Benzoate, Silica, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Citral, Linalool, Limonene, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCitral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
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 CitralDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLimonene 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
