What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
No benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentButane
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantSd Alcohol 40-B, Butane, Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Ethoxydiglycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Isobutane, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Eugenol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Acetyl Triethyl Citrate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Sd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentDimethyl Ether
SolventOctylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingParfum
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantAcetyl Triethyl Citrate
MaskingPEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAmp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientHedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLitchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningStyrax Benzoin Resin Extract
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingSd Alcohol 40-B, Dimethyl Ether, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Parfum, Glycerin, Acetyl Triethyl Citrate, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Water, Panthenol, Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Benzophenone-4, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citral
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Triethyl Citrate is a fragrance.
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.
Hexyl 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 LinaloolWe don't have a description for Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer yet.
Parfum 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 ParfumPEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone is a type of silicone.
SD Alcohol 40-B is created by denaturing ethanol with tert-Butyl alcohol and denatonium benzoate. It is a solvent and astringent.
The 'SD' stands for 'specially denatured'. Denatured alcohol means the structure has been altered.
The 40-B is given by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This is in accordance to the method of how the alcohol was denatured.
This ingredient is a solvent alcohol.
Learn more about Sd Alcohol 40-B