What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tapioca Starch
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citrus Sinensis Fruit Water
MaskingPolyacrylamide
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone-3, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Tapioca Starch, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Sinensis Fruit Water, Polyacrylamide, Xylitylglucoside, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Anhydroxylitol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Xylitol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Sulfite, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Limonene, Laureth-7, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dehydroacetic Acid, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Quadrangularis Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Glycolic Acid, Disodium EDTA, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Sulfite, Punica Granatum Extract, Alcohol Denat., Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Passiflora Quadrangularis Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Parfum, Citral, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citral 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 CitralDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 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 a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Sulfite is a preservative. Preservatives help prevent mold and bacteria from growing in cosmetics.
This ingredient has been shown to break the bonds in hair, acting as a natural straightener.
It is commonly used in food. It should be noted sodium sulfite degrades both vitamins B1 and E.
Fun fact: Sulfites are naturally occuring in wine.
Learn more about Sodium SulfiteWater. 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
