What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeAmodimethicone
Quaternium-80
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPanthenol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingMalic Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeOleic Acid
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingHistidine
HumectantCitronellol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingGeraniol
PerfumingLecithin
EmollientAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientWater, Propylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Quaternium-80, Cetrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Parfum, Malic Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Methylparaben, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trideceth-12, Squalane, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Oleic Acid, Linalool, Histidine, Citronellol, Citric Acid, Geraniol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-87
CleansingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePolyquaternium-37
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-11
Limonene
PerfumingCandelilla Cera
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAcrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingEDTA
Citronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientGlycolic Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Quaternium-87, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Stearyl Alcohol, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Behentrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-37, Polysorbate 20, Polyquaternium-11, Limonene, Candelilla Cera, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Citric Acid, EDTA, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycolic Acid, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
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 CitronellolIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholLinalool 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 ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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