What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingAmmonium Chloride
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialLaureth-4
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-67
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSilicone Quaternium-16
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantUndeceth-11
EmollientCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientButyloctanol
HumectantBenzoic Acid
MaskingUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingSodium Acetate
BufferingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventLimonene
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Ammonium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Glycol Distearate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Cetrimonium Chloride, Laureth-4, Polyquaternium-67, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Silicone Quaternium-16, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Propylene Glycol, Undeceth-11, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Butyloctanol, Benzoic Acid, Undeceth-5, Sodium Acetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Isopropyl Alcohol, Limonene, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingLauramide Dipa
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Acetic Acid
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantBis-Diisopropanolamino-Pg-Propyl Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PEG-14 Copolymer
Butyloctanol
HumectantC12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Glycol Distearate
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventLaureth-4
EmulsifyingMagnesium Chloride
Magnesium Nitrate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Laurate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
EmollientPoly(C20-28 Olefin)
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPPG-3 Myristyl Ether
EmollientSilicone Quaternium-16
Skin ConditioningSilicone Quaternium-22
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Sulfate
Stearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Undeceth-11
EmollientUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauramide Dipa, Glycerin, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Acetic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Bis-Diisopropanolamino-Pg-Propyl Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PEG-14 Copolymer, Butyloctanol, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Disodium EDTA, Glycol Distearate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Laureth-4, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Panthenol, Parfum, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-8 Laurate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Poly(C20-28 Olefin), Polysorbate 20, PPG-3 Myristyl Ether, Silicone Quaternium-16, Silicone Quaternium-22, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Sulfate, Stearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Undeceth-11, Undeceth-5, Benzoic Acid, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.
The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.
In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.
The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.
Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidWe don't have a description for Butyloctanol yet.
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 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 BetaineThis ingredient is a cleansing agent, surfactant, and foam booster. It considered an alternative to traditional sulfates (Sulfosuccinate) and is allowed in "sulfate-free" products.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is mild and can be used in baby and bath options.
Glycol Distearate serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.
It's often included in cleansers and haircare products to give them a lustrous or shimmering appearance.
It is derived from stearic acid, a natural fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats.
Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholLaureth-4 is created by reacting ethylene oxide with Lauryl Alcohol. It is a surfactant and emulsifier.
Surfactants reduce the surface tension of ingredients so they can mix better. Emulsifiers prevent ingredients such as oil and water from separating.
Parfum 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.
Silicone Quaternium-16 is a type of silicone.
Sodium 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 BenzoateSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a cleansing agent made from a mixture of long chain sulfonate salts. It can also help produce foam.
This ingredient may be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Chances 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.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWe don't have a description for Undeceth-11 yet.
We don't have a description for Undeceth-5 yet.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water