What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMipa-Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sulfated Castor Oil
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Extract
MaskingGeraniol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citral
Perfuming
Ficus Carica Bud Extract
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Extract
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Hull Extract
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Mipa-Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Sulfated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Rosa Damascena Extract, Geraniol, Citric Acid, Citral, Ficus Carica Bud Extract, Gossypium Herbaceum Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Hull Extract, Citronellol, Linalool, Farnesol, Eugenol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Jojoba Oil/Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Propanediol
Solvent
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Capryl/Capramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Sodium Chloride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Hexanediol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGellan Gum
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Rutinyl Disulfate
Antioxidant
Hordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
Buffering
Citral
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Jojoba Oil/Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Propanediol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glycol Distearate, Capryl/Capramidopropyl Betaine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Gellan Gum, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Disodium Rutinyl Disulfate, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Citric Acid, Citral, Farnesol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
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 CitralCitric 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 AcidDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideFarnesol is a compound extracted from essential oils such as lemongrass, rose, and more. It is used as a fragrance in products to help boost floral scents.
Farnesol is a known EU allergen and causes contact dermatitis.
This ingredient is hydrophobic, meaning it is not soluble in water.
Learn more about FarnesolGeraniol 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 GeraniolThis 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 ChlorideLimonene 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 LinaloolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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
