What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCapryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide
EmulsifyingLauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide
EmollientGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-7
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Quaternium-98
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide, Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide, Glycol Distearate, Cocamide Mea, Polyquaternium-7, Phenoxyethanol, Quaternium-98, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Parfum, Citric Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetrimonium Chloride, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Caffeine, Biotin
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Keratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyquaternium-10
Disodium EDTA
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
PEG-8 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
Cleansing
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSteareth-4
EmulsifyingPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-7
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Keratin Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Silk, Panthenol, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-10, Disodium EDTA, Glycol Distearate, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, PEG-8 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Potassium Sorbate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Hexylene Glycol, Steareth-4, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Zea Mays Starch, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, 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.
You may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilCitric 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 BetaineGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateThis 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 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.
Polyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
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 Water
