What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Tapioca Starch Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Leptospermum Petersonii Oil
Masking
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., Tapioca Starch Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Alcohol, Allantoin, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Citral, Citronellol, Leptospermum Petersonii Oil, Caramel, CI 19140, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Dextrin
AbsorbentOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Limonene, Sodium Hydroxide, Citral, Citronellol, Linalool, Eugenol, Dextrin, Oryza Sativa Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitral 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 CitralCitronellol 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 CitronellolLimonene 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 LimoneneSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
