What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentHydrofluorocarbon 152a
Propylene Glycol
HumectantEthyl Ester Of Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Glycerin
HumectantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningAmp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSilicone Quaternium-16
Skin ConditioningUndeceth-11
EmollientButyloctanol
HumectantUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingCitral
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingSd Alcohol 40-B, Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Ester Of Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Glycerin, Aminomethyl Propanol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Water, Panthenol, Silicone Quaternium-16, Undeceth-11, Butyloctanol, Undeceth-5, Parfum, Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Sd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentHydrofluorocarbon 152a
Water
Skin ConditioningOctylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Va/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhytantriol
HumectantAmp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingPPG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingSd Alcohol 40-B, Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Water, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Va/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Triethyl Citrate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Panthenol, Phytantriol, Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, PPG-12 Dimethicone, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, BHT, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
We don't have a description for Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein yet.
Hexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalWe don't have a description for Hydrofluorocarbon 152a yet.
Limonene 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 LinaloolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumSD Alcohol 40-B is created by denaturing ethanol with tert-Butyl alcohol and denatonium benzoate. It is a solvent and astringent.
The 'SD' stands for 'specially denatured'. Denatured alcohol means the structure has been altered.
The 40-B is given by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This is in accordance to the method of how the alcohol was denatured.
This ingredient is a solvent alcohol.
Learn more about Sd Alcohol 40-BWater. 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