What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sd Alcohol 40-B
Astringent
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethyl Ester Of Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Silicone Quaternium-16
Skin Conditioning
Undeceth-11
EmollientButyloctanol
HumectantUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Sd 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
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientParfum
Masking
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingQuaternium-91
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey
Cetrimonium Methosulfate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Polyquaternium-11
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-22
Polyquaternium-7
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-90m
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyquaternium-59
UV AbsorberPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Trisodium Hedta
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Parfum, Methyl Gluceth-10, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Quaternium-91, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-11, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyquaternium-22, Polyquaternium-7, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-90m, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-59, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, BHT, Isopropyl Alcohol, Trisodium Hedta, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Cinnamal, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Isoeugenol, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citral 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 CitralGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexyl 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 CinnamalLimonene 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 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
