What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningVp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer
Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil
Skin Protecting
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Urtica Dioica Extract
AstringentMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycine
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Pouteria Sapota Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-37
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Etidronic Acid
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetrimonium Chloride, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine, Glycerin, Pouteria Sapota Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyquaternium-37, Polysorbate 20, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trideceth-6, Sodium Metabisulfite, Zinc Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Etidronic Acid, Benzalkonium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sh-Oligopeptide-78
Surfactant
Alteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-16
Stearalkonium Chloride
Preservative
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Isopropyl Palmitate, Stearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Isopentyldiol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sh-Oligopeptide-78, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Jojoba Esters, Calcium Gluconate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Ceramide NP, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyquaternium-16, Stearalkonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Hydroxycitronellal
Reviews
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 AcidHydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".
Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.
Parfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 BenzoateStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
