What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-37
Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolyquaternium-11
Parfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDisodium EDTA
PEG-4 Dilaurate
EmulsifyingPEG-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialVp/Dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate Copolymer
Benzalkonium Chloride
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativePEG-4
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningChitosan
Bacopa Monnieri Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Polyquaternium-37, Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyquaternium-11, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, PEG-4 Dilaurate, PEG-4 Laurate, Sorbitan Oleate, Alcohol Denat., Vp/Dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate Copolymer, Benzalkonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, PEG-4, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Chitosan, Bacopa Monnieri Extract, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingDimethiconol
EmollientCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Chloride
Glycol Distearate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingTea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingAmodimethicone
Laureth-23
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingHoney
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
PEG-45m
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingMagnesium Nitrate
Silica
AbrasivePPG-9
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMagnesium Chloride
Methylisothiazolinone
PreservativeBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCinnamal
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Dimethiconol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Carbomer, Parfum, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Amodimethicone, Laureth-23, Citric Acid, Honey, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, PEG-45m, Sodium Benzoate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Magnesium Nitrate, Silica, PPG-9, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamal, Eugenol, Limonene, Mica, CI 77491, CI 77891, CI 19140, CI 15985
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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneParfum 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.
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