What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingMenthol
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingMolasses
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Decylene Glycol, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Linalool, Menthol, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Molasses, Sorbitol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Linalool 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 LinaloolPropylene 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 GlycolWater. 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