What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingAmodimethicone
Polyquaternium-37
PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientAcetamide Mea
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingLactamide Mea
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeXylose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingLinalool
PerfumingDimethiconol
EmollientBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningIsoeugenol
PerfumingBHT
AntioxidantMelanin
Skin ProtectingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Amodimethicone, Polyquaternium-37, PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Acetamide Mea, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Lactamide Mea, Dimethicone, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Butylene Glycol, Trideceth-6, Behentrimonium Chloride, Xylose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Linalool, Dimethiconol, Benzophenone-4, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Tocopherol, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Isoeugenol, BHT, Melanin, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Polyurethane-34
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Parfum
MaskingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingMethylpropanediol
SolventLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGeraniol
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingPhenylpropanol
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyurethane-34, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Parfum, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Polysorbate 80, Aminomethyl Propanol, CI 77220, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Methylpropanediol, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Geraniol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Phenylpropanol, Propylene Glycol, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholBenzyl 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 SalicylateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGeraniol 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 GeraniolLinalool 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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