What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialHydrofluorocarbon 152a
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyurethane-14
Isobutane
Amp-Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingTriethyl Citrate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Benzyl Salicylate
PerfumingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientGossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAlcohol Denat., Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Water, Polyurethane-14, Isobutane, Amp-Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Triethyl Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Benzyl Salicylate, Panthenol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialHydrofluorocarbon 152a
Dimethyl Ether
SolventButyl Ester Of Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyurethane-14
Glycerin
HumectantLactamide Mea
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingBisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl Pg-Propyl Dimethicone
Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Amp-Acrylates Copolymer
N-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPEG-75 Lanolin
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingParfum
MaskingAlcohol Denat., Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Dimethyl Ether, Butyl Ester Of Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Water, Polyurethane-14, Glycerin, Lactamide Mea, Panthenol, Triethyl Citrate, Bisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl Pg-Propyl Dimethicone, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Amp-Acrylates Copolymer, N-Butyl Alcohol, Aminomethyl Propanol, PEG-75 Lanolin, Dipropylene Glycol, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Aminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
We don't have a description for Amp-Acrylates Copolymer yet.
Benzyl Salicylate is a solvent and fragrance additive. It is an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid. This ingredient can be naturally found in some plants and plant extracts.
In fragrances, Benzyl Salicylate may be a solvent or a fragrance component. In synthetic musk scents, it is used as a solvent. For floral fragrances such as lilac and jasmine, it is used as a fragrance component. The natural scent of Benzyl Salicylate is described as "lightly-sweet, slightly balsamic".
While Benzyl Salicylate has been associated with contact dermatitis and allergies, emerging studies show it may not be caused by this ingredient alone.
However, this ingredient is often used with fragrances and other components that may cause allergies. It is still listed as a known allergen in the EU. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Another study from 2021 shows Benzyl Salicylate may have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Benzyl SalicylateGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexyl 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 CinnamalWe don't have a description for Hydrofluorocarbon 152a yet.
Limonene 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 LimonenePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumWe don't have a description for Polyurethane-14 yet.
Triethyl Citrate comes from citric acid. It has masking, perfuming, and solvent properties. As a solvent, this ingredient helps disperse ingredients evenly in skincare.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient can:
According to perfume manufacturers, this ingredient is almost odorless but has a mild fruity, wine and plum scent. It can be used to mask the scent of other ingredients.
This ingredient can be plant-sourced or synthetic; it can naturally be found in cabbage and white wine.
Learn more about Triethyl CitrateWater. 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