What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientParfum
MaskingLaureth-2
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChenopodium Quinoa Seed Oil Ethyl Esters
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPrunus Domestica Fruit Extract
MoisturisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Parfum, Laureth-2, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Oil Ethyl Esters, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Water, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool
Paraffinum Liquidum
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientParfum
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantFragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLysimachia Foenum-Graecum Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingHexamethylindanopyran
MaskingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingVanillin
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingParaffinum Liquidum, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Lysimachia Foenum-Graecum Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Hexamethylindanopyran, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Vanillin, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Geranyl Acetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate