What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Betaine
Humectant
Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract
MaskingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPrunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingPotassium Lactate
BufferingTerminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dihydroxyacetone, Propanediol, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Potassium Lactate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil, Linalool, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Alcohol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolDihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is the active ingredient in self-tanners.
It's a simply sugar that reacts with the free amino acids in your outermost layer of skin to produce brown-colored compounds called melanoidins.
DHA does not penetrate living skin cells, does not interact with melanocytes, and does not affect actualy melanin production.
There's a "safety controversy" that largely stems from misinterpreted studies:
Once concern is that DHA can generate unstable molecules that can damage cells (free radicals) when exposed to sunlight. This only happens in the outermost layer of dead skin cells and wearing SPF on top takes care of it.
The DNA damage claim comes from lab studies that doused living skin cells in much higher concentrations of DHA than you'd ever find in a self-tanner. That's not really a meaningful comparison to putting self-tanning lotion on your skin.
Regulatory bodies around the world, including the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and the U.S. FDA consider it safe for use in cosmetics when applied topically (maximum 10%, and most self-tanners contain between 3-5%).
Learn more about DihydroxyacetoneEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 LinaloolParfum 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.
Sodium metabisulfite is also known as Sodium Pyrosulfite. It is a preservative, antioxidant, and disinfectant.
As a preservative, it helps stabilize cosmetic formulas without affecting their color or scent.
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
