What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingOleth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Oleth-10
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Menthol
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Alcohol Denat., Pvp, Propylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Oleth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Parfum, Oleth-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Menthol, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bacopa Monnieri Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
CleansingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40
HumectantHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Polyquaternium-4
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Tocopherol, Bacopa Monnieri Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Wheat Amino Acids, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-4, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolLimonene 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 LimoneneParfum 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
