What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-55
Oleth-20
CleansingHydroxypropyltrimonium Honey
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningMusa Paradisiaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentPvp
Emulsion StabilisingSilk Amino Acids
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGlycereth-2 Cocoate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingBenzoic Acid
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Polyquaternium-55, Oleth-20, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Musa Paradisiaca Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Pvp, Silk Amino Acids, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Sodium Chloride, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Limonene, Coumarin, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-11
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingC12-18 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingSodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Polyquaternium-11, Pvp, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Biotin, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Sodium Chloride, C12-18 Acid Triglyceride, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Amyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene, Coumarin, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citronellol 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 CitronellolCoumarins are a group of substances found naturally in plants. There are over 1300 types of coumarins identified. It has a natural vanilla scent.
Coumarin is an identified EU known allergy, meaning it may cause an allergic reaction when applied to the skin.
In many countries, coumarin is banned as a food additive. However, it can be found in soaps, tobacco products, and some alcohol drinks.
Plants use coumarins as a chemical defense. Some plants that have coumarins include lavender, tonka beans, and yellow clovers.
Learn more about CoumarinEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene 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 LimoneneLinalool 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 ParfumPvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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