What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Coco-Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCitrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantTrigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract
PerfumingFructose
HumectantUrea
BufferingMaltose
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlucose
HumectantLactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract, Fructose, Urea, Maltose, Sodium PCA, Trehalose, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucose, Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Maris Sal, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantGlycol Distearate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningKeratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantDimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate
EmollientTrimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Myristyl Serinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingC12-16 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingPEG-8/Smdi Copolymer
Benzophenone-4
UV AbsorberDisodium EDTA
ChelatingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Tocopherol, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Keratin Amino Acids, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Butylene Glycol, PEG-8, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Palmitoyl Myristyl Serinate, Sodium Polyacrylate, C11-15 Pareth-7, C12-16 Pareth-9, Trideceth-12, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer, Benzophenone-4, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Limonene, Citronellol, Linalool
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.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
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 GlycerinThis 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 ChlorideLinalool is a small, naturally occurring scent molecule found in plants like lavender, coriander, bergamot, and more.
It is one of the two most-used fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and added purely for smell. Since it's not used for a skin benefit, there's no "effective dose". Concentration depends on the fragrance load of the product.
The EU requires it to be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Fresh linalool is a weak sensitizer but air exposure turns some of it into hydroperoxides, which are strong sensitizers. Those oxidation products are the actual allergy concern.
Patch-test clinics see positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxides in about 4% to 12% of dermatitis patients depending on country and test concentration.
Resassuringly, one analytical study found hydroperoxide levels in real fragranced products to be orders of magnitude below what induced sensitization in animal studies with no evidence of oxidation building up during normal storage.
The practical takeaway is that linalool is fine for most people but worth avoiding if you have a confirmed fragrance contact allergy or a badly compromised barrier.
Products stored a long time after opening are also the high-risk scenario since that is when oxidation happens.
The scent of linalool is described as 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 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 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