What's inside
What's inside
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingCitral
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialFarnesol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantAlcohol, Parfum, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Linalool, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Eugenol, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Citral, Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, Coumarin, CI 14700, CI 60730, CI 60725, CI 15510
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 MethoxydibenzoylmethaneParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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 Water