What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Sea Salt, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Copaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCarapa Guaianensis Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingFusanus Spicatus Wood Oil
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Farnesol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Silica, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Jojoba Esters, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Glycine, Polysorbate 20, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Bisabolol, Benzoic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Cellulose Gum, Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Farnesol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Linalool, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilLimonene 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 LinaloolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
