What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
No benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Aminopropyl Triethoxysilane
SurfactantAcrylates Copolymer
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-30
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Magnesium Nitrate
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Magnesium Chloride
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Hexylene Glycol, Parfum, Aminopropyl Triethoxysilane, Acrylates Copolymer, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Alcohol Denat., Polyquaternium-30, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Magnesium Nitrate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningLinoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol
EmulsifyingCassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningPhytantriol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
Emulsifying
PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol, Cassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Polyquaternium-47, Phytantriol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidHexyl 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 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 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
