What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Coco-Sulfate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingInulin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningNasturtium Officinale Extract
PerfumingTropaeolum Majus Extract
AntimicrobialLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial1,2-Dihydrolinalool
PerfumingCis-3-Hexenyl Salicylate
PerfumingMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingPentadecalactone
MaskingTriethyl Citrate
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Glycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Citric Acid, Inulin, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Tropaeolum Majus Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Dihydrolinalool, Cis-3-Hexenyl Salicylate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Pentadecalactone, Triethyl Citrate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Seed Oil
EmollientEntada Phaseoloides Bark/Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDimethiconol Cysteine
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantMagnesium PCA
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantManganese PCA
HumectantSqualane
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSorbic Acid
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialBenzoic Acid
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantGlycol Distearate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilicone Quaternium-3
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzisothiazolinone
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Entada Phaseoloides Bark/Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dimethiconol Cysteine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Magnesium PCA, Zinc PCA, Manganese PCA, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Ascorbic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glycol Distearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silicone Quaternium-3, Trideceth-12, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, PEG-150 Distearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzisothiazolinone, Parfum, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
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 GlycerinThis 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 ParfumPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateChances 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