What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPhysalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract
Skin ConditioningRhododendron Ferrugineum Extract
MaskingHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantRose Extract
Skin ConditioningPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningMichelia Alba Leaf Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Soybean Oil
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingWater, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Physalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Rose Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Michelia Alba Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Citric Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77491, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Eugenol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-5 Laurate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCitral
PerfumingCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningCrocus Sativus Stigma Extract
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMethylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Alcohol Denat., Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-5 Laurate, Propanediol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77891, Citral, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Crocus Sativus Stigma Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hexapeptide-11, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Mica, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
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 CitralGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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