What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Silica
AbrasiveAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentPolymethyl Methacrylate
Nylon-12
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventCaprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Juice
AstringentRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingSilica, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Nylon-12, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Parfum, Water, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betula Alba Juice, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Geraniol, Citronellol, Linalool
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Silica
AbrasiveDimethicone
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientHdi/PPG/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer
Glycerin
HumectantMagnesium Myristate
Isopropyl Palmitate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPearl Extract
AntioxidantCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialDiamond Powder
AbrasiveTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentHydrogen Dimethicone
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Octyldodecanol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningOleyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCoumarin
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingMica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Dimethicone, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hdi/PPG/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Magnesium Myristate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Pentylene Glycol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Pearl Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Diamond Powder, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polysorbate 20, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Stearate, Isohexadecane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Octyldodecanol, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Sterols, Oleanolic Acid, Oleyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Geraniol, Amyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Reviews
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 a naturally occurring alcohol found in Rose and Geranium oils. In cosmetics, it functions purely as a fragrance ingredient.
The scent of this ingredient is described as "fresh, rosey, and citrusy".
Typical use levels are very low since the total fragrance load in a product is usually well under 1% and citronellol is only a small fraction of that.
The EU asks brands to name it on the label once it goes above 0.001% in leave-on products of 0.01% in rinse-off ones.
It is one of the EU's labeled fragrance allergens but real-world patch testing has shown it to be fairly weak and an infrequent allergen; positive reactions land around 0.1-0.9% of patients across recent European dermatitis clinic studies.
The bigger nuance is oxidation. Citronellol forms hydroperoxides when it reacts with air. These hydroperoxides are more sensitizing than the fresh ingredient, and patch test studies confirmed oxidized Citronellol causes more reactions than purified.
This means good packaging and freshness matter more than the molecule itself.
Fragrance can be irritating to very reactive or compromised skin, so people with sensitive skin may still prefer to skip it.
Learn more about CitronellolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 GeraniolLinalool is a small, naturally occurring scent molecule found in plants like lavender, coriander, bergamot, and more.
It is one of the two most-used fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and added purely for smell. Since it's not used for a skin benefit, there's no "effective dose". Concentration depends on the fragrance load of the product.
The EU requires it to be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Fresh linalool is a weak sensitizer but air exposure turns some of it into hydroperoxides, which are strong sensitizers. Those oxidation products are the actual allergy concern.
Patch-test clinics see positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxides in about 4% to 12% of dermatitis patients depending on country and test concentration.
Resassuringly, one analytical study found hydroperoxide levels in real fragranced products to be orders of magnitude below what induced sensitization in animal studies with no evidence of oxidation building up during normal storage.
The practical takeaway is that linalool is fine for most people but worth avoiding if you have a confirmed fragrance contact allergy or a badly compromised barrier.
Products stored a long time after opening are also the high-risk scenario since that is when oxidation happens.
The scent of linalool is described as 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about Silica