What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Babassuamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Bixa Orellana Seed Extract
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-10
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Phytate
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 75120
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamide Mipa, Propanediol, Babassuamidopropyl Betaine, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Glycerin, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Polysorbate 80, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Sodium Phytate, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 75120
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Buteth-3
SolventLauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-10
Amodimethicone
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLaureth-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingLinalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingTributyl Citrate
SolventCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Benzyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Phenethyl Benzoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Sodium Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Disodium EDTA, Buteth-3, Lauryl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, Amodimethicone, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, C11-15 Pareth-7, Glyceryl Stearate, Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Laureth-9, Trideceth-12, Linalool, Geraniol, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Tributyl Citrate, CI 19140, CI 14700, CI 61570
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 AcidGeraniol 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 GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool 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 LinaloolParfum 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 ParfumPolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Sodium 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
