What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract
Masking
Black Strap Powder
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Coco-Sulfate
Cleansing
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantColour
Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Maris Sal, Parfum, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract, Black Strap Powder, Titanium Dioxide, Water, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Propylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Tin Oxide, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Linalool, CI 45410, Colour
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 AcidParfum 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 Bicarbonate has a more famous name: Baking soda.
In cosmetics, it is used to adjust the acidity. Due to its white crystalline solid form, it can also be an abrasive (exfoliator).
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium BicarbonateWater. 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
