What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Zinc Pyrithione
Antiseborrhoeic
Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Surfactant
Disodium Ricinoleamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Methylparaben
Preservative
Polyquaternium-10
Menthoxypropanediol
Masking
Butylparaben
Masking
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Isobutylparaben
Antimicrobial
Propylparaben
Preservative
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingLinalool
Perfuming
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Eugenol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Oleth-10
EmulsifyingButylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate
CleansingLecithin
Emollient
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Zinc Pyrithione, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Disodium Ricinoleamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Methylparaben, Polyquaternium-10, Menthoxypropanediol, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben, Hexyl Cinnamal, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Linalool, Wheat Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Eugenol, Limonene, Oleth-10, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate, Lecithin, Phosphoric Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Laureth-5 Carboxylic Acid
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Surfactant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingParfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Polyquaternium-67
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Laureth-5 Carboxylic Acid, Sodium Chloride, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Glycine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Polyquaternium-67, Limonene, Benzoic Acid, Linalool, Ascorbic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineLimonene 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 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 ParfumPEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate isn't fungal acne safe.
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 GlycolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
