What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLaureth-2
CleansingPEG/PPG-120/10 Trimethylolpropane Trioleate
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLaureth-4
Emulsifying
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Polyimide-1
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Laureth-2, PEG/PPG-120/10 Trimethylolpropane Trioleate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Benzoate, Glycol Distearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-4, Lactic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Polyimide-1, Carnosine, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Polyquaternium-7
Citric Acid
Buffering
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Isethionate
CleansingAmodimethicone/Silsesquioxane Copolymer
Olea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Laurate
CleansingTrideceth-5
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Coco-Glucoside, Parfum, Glyceryl Oleate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Panthenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenethyl Benzoate, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Coconut Acid, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Lauryl Alcohol, Lauric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Citric Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Isethionate, Amodimethicone/Silsesquioxane Copolymer, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Laurate, Trideceth-5, Glyceryl Stearate, Limonene, CI 60730, CI 60725, CI 19140, CI 61570
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineThis ingredient is a cleansing agent, surfactant, and foam booster. It considered an alternative to traditional sulfates (Sulfosuccinate) and is allowed in "sulfate-free" products.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is mild and can be used in baby and bath options.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideParfum 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 ParfumSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier. It is a surfactant derived from sarcosine, and a common source is coconut oil.
As a surfactant, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate helps lift dirts, oil, and other molecules to be washed away. In leave-on products, this ingredient is used as an emulsifier. Emulsifier help prevent ingredients such as oils and waters from separating.
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is also commonly found as a foaming agent in shampoo, toothpaste, and shaving foam. It is amphiphilic, meaning it loves both water and fats.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl SarcosinateWater. 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
