What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningDodecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningBertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil
EmollientPaullinia Cupana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningIlex Guayusa Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
PerfumingBixa Orellana Seed Extract
MaskingDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Phytate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dodecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Squalane, Tocopherol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-10
Capryloyl/Caproyl Anhydro Methyl Glucamide
SolventGlycerin
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Proline
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitral
PerfumingWater, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-10, Capryloyl/Caproyl Anhydro Methyl Glucamide, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Sodium Chloride, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Rice Amino Acids, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Proline, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citral
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 GlycerinParfum 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.
Water. 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