What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingMelaleuca Leucadendron Cajaput Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingLentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGeraniol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycoproteins
Skin ConditioningMethylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningDextran
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Alcohol Denat., Water, Glycerin, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Limonene, Pentylene Glycol, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Melaleuca Leucadendron Cajaput Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Linalool, Citral, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate, Isoeugenol, Farnesol, Eugenol, Xanthan Gum, Glycoproteins, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Dextran, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCocoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningVp/Va Copolymer
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCreatine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTerminalia Chebula Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantDextran
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingSodium Chloride
MaskingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingAlcohol
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
MaskingFarnesol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingAdenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningDisodium Uridine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower Oil
PerfumingNardostachys Jatamansi Oil
PerfumingSantalum Spicata Wood Oil
PerfumingWater, Capryloyl Glycine, Glycerin, Cocoyl Proline, Vp/Va Copolymer, Caffeine, Benzyl Alcohol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Butylene Glycol, Creatine, Xanthan Gum, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dextran, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Linalool, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Limonene, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Sodium Chloride, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Farnesol, Citral, Eugenol, Adenosine Phosphate, Disodium Uridine Phosphate, Jasminum Officinale Flower Oil, Nardostachys Jatamansi Oil, Santalum Spicata Wood Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Benzoate is usually created from the condensation of benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. It is used as a preservative, solvent, and has a floral/balsamic scent in large amounts.
As a preservative, Benzyl Benzoate works against bacteria and fungus. It is often used to treat scabies and lice in medicine.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Due to its fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate can be sensitizing and may cause contact dermatitis. It is a known EU allergen. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Benzyl Benzoate can be naturally found in cranberries and peaches.
Learn more about Benzyl BenzoateBenzyl Salicylate is a solvent and fragrance additive. It is an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid. This ingredient can be naturally found in some plants and plant extracts.
In fragrances, Benzyl Salicylate may be a solvent or a fragrance component. In synthetic musk scents, it is used as a solvent. For floral fragrances such as lilac and jasmine, it is used as a fragrance component. The natural scent of Benzyl Salicylate is described as "lightly-sweet, slightly balsamic".
While Benzyl Salicylate has been associated with contact dermatitis and allergies, emerging studies show it may not be caused by this ingredient alone.
However, this ingredient is often used with fragrances and other components that may cause allergies. It is still listed as a known allergen in the EU. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Another study from 2021 shows Benzyl Salicylate may have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Benzyl SalicylateButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCananga Odorata Flower Oil comes from the ylang-ylang flower, Cananga odorata.
Ylang-ylang oil has slight antibacterial, antioxidant and antifungal properties. However, it also contains a number of sensitizing ingredients such as geraniol, limonene, linalool and benzyl benzoate. These compounds are known EU allergens.
The composition of this ingredient depends on the source. Luxury perfumes tend to use higher grade ylang-ylang for their fragrance. Lower grade ylang-ylang is less fragrant.
Learn more about Cananga Odorata Flower OilCitral 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 CitralDextran is a sugar (polysaccharide) with skin hydrating properties.
Fun fact: Louis Pasteur first discovered this ingredient as a microbial product in wine.
Eugenol is naturally found in cloves, basil, and bay leaves. It is an aromatic oil used to add fragrance to a product. The scent of eugenol is described as "clove-like". Eugenol is a known EU allergen, meaning it causes contact allergies.
Studies show eugenol possesses antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
Besides cosmetics, eugenol is also added as a flavor in teas and cakes.
Learn more about EugenolFarnesol is a compound extracted from essential oils such as lemongrass, rose, and more. It is used as a fragrance in products to help boost floral scents.
Farnesol is a known EU allergen and causes contact dermatitis.
This ingredient is hydrophobic, meaning it is not soluble in water.
Learn more about FarnesolGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 LinaloolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum