What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingParfum
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pantolactone, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingMethyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether
SolventMethyl Perfluorobutyl Ether
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
CleansingParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenylpropanol
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
AbrasiveSodium Citrate
BufferingHydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate
EmollientCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Methyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether, Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Oleate, Saccharide Isomerate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Allantoin, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Parfum, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77891, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Chloride, Propanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mica, Silica, Sodium Citrate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate, CI 19140
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 AcidCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Oleate is the monoester of glycerin and oleic acid. It is a skin-conditioning emollient that also helps form emulsions.
What makes glyceryl oleate special is its "re-fatting" effect.
When you wash your hair and skin with a surfactant-based cleanser, the surfactants grab onto everything. This includes your skin's natural lipids, or the fats that live in your skin barrier and sebum. Once you rinse these surfactants away, it leaves your skin feeling tight, dry, and clean (in a not-good way).
Re-fatting is essentially putting some of these lipids back. Glyceryl oleate deposits a thin layer of emollient lipids back on the skin or hair surface reduce some of the barrier damage.
Also, glyceryl oleate isn't a foreign molecule to your skin. It's chemically identical to something your skin already produces and manages naturally. This is why it tends to be well-tolerated with low risk of irritation.
Typical use levels range from 0.5-5%.
Glyceryl Oleate has a function of "perfuming" in the CosIng database. This just means that the ingredient has some scent character that can contribute to the product's overall smell.
The scent of this ingredient is described as "waxy".
As an ester of oleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. This is because oleic acid falls into the carbon-chain length that Malassezia can use as a substrate.
Learn more about Glyceryl OleateParfum 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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium Cocoyl Glutamate is a gentle cleanser and surfactant. It is the sodium salt of the Cocoyl Glutamic Acid and comes from coconut oil. As a surfactant, it helps lift dirt and oil to be washed away.
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate also has an emolliating effect and can help leave the skin feeling soft.
Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum