What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingGaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
PerfumingHydrolyzed Walnut Extract
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantZinc PCA
HumectantCalcium Chloride
AstringentFerric Chloride
AstringentMagnesium Chloride
Cupric Chloride
Skin ConditioningManganese Chloride
Skin ConditioningZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Laureth-2
CleansingPEG-90 Glyceryl Isostearate
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Walnut Extract, Panthenol, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Zinc PCA, Calcium Chloride, Ferric Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Cupric Chloride, Manganese Chloride, Zinc Chloride, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-2, PEG-90 Glyceryl Isostearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCellulose Acetate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Trideceth Sulfate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlycolic Acid
BufferingTriethanolamine
BufferingParfum
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingSteareth-4
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingRosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
BufferingCalcium Pantothenate
Citronellol
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Glycolate
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientUrea
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingMagnesium Lactate
BufferingPapain
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Lactate
BufferingAlanine
MaskingDendrobium Nobile Extract
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cellulose Acetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, Glycolic Acid, Triethanolamine, Parfum, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cocamide Mea, Steareth-4, Potassium Sorbate, PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Sodium Chloride, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Citronellol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Glycolate, Linalool, Caprylyl Glycol, Urea, Niacinamide, Magnesium Lactate, Papain, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Lactate, Alanine, Dendrobium Nobile Extract, Proline, Serine, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
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 AcidCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinMagnesium chloride is a mineral salt made from magnesium and chloride. It is mainly used to control product stability and texture in cosmetics.
This ingredient can also play a role in soothing the skin and supporting normal skin function.
Magnesium chloride is water-soluble, generally well tolerated, and does not act as a strong “active” ingredient on its own.
Learn more about Magnesium 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 BenzoateWater. 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