What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDiisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentGoat Milk Extract
Cera Alba
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingTerpineol
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingDimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Lactobacillus, Cyclodextrin, Goat Milk Extract, Cera Alba, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Citronellol, Terpineol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Dimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPolymethyl Methacrylate
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberTriethylhexanoin
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterPolyurethane-34
Propylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Polyurethane-34, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Methylparaben, Parfum, Citronellol, Limonene, Sodium Hydroxide
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 CitronellolGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 GlycolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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