What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientArginine
MaskingSerine
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Caprate
EmulsifyingPCA
HumectantGlycine
BufferingHistidine
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantSilicone Quaternium-22
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingAspartic Acid
MaskingPalmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Propylene Glycol
HumectantAlanine
MaskingHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Phenylalanine
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingAmyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Arginine, Serine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, PCA, Glycine, Histidine, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Silicone Quaternium-22, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Sodium PCA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Aspartic Acid, Palmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Alanine, Hydrolyzed Silk, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Phenylalanine, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Amyl Salicylate, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Citric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Limonene
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Parfum, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Limonene, Sodium Benzoate
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 GlycerinParfum 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 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 BenzoateThis ingredient is also known as ISO E Super. It is a synthetic perfuming and masking ingredient.
The manufacturer describes this scnet as amber and woody.
According to the EU, this ingredient is a known allergen and some people may develop skin sensitivity from repeated exposure.
Learn more about Tetramethyl AcetyloctahydronaphthalenesWater. 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