What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Kobus Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningSaponins
CleansingMenthol
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantArtemisia Princeps Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingSodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Saponins, Menthol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Allantoin, Sorbitol, Tocopherol, Artemisia Princeps Extract, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Arginine, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantUrea
BufferingSerine
MaskingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientLecithin
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin, Alcohol Denat., Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Parfum, Phenethyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Sorbitol, Urea, Serine, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Lecithin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCitric 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-GlucosideGlycerin (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 ParfumChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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