What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydroxypropylammonium Gluconate
HumectantHydroxypropylgluconamide
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Glycereth-26
HumectantLaureth-4
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Citric Acid
BufferingMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingVegetable Oil
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCI 75120
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingIsoeugenol
PerfumingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, PEG-150 Distearate, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Disodium EDTA, Glycereth-26, Laureth-4, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid, Methyl Gluceth-10, Propylene Glycol, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Vegetable Oil, Geraniol, Citronellol, CI 75120, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Potassium Hydroxide, Isoeugenol
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingEthanolamine
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientParfum
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-10
Amodimethicone
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingCoco-Betaine
CleansingPEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
SurfactantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLinalool
PerfumingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzoic Acid
MaskingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingLimonene
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingSalicylic Acid
MaskingMagnesium Nitrate
Geraniol
PerfumingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCitronellol
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMagnesium Chloride
Methylisothiazolinone
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Ethanolamine, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycol Distearate, Parfum, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Amodimethicone, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Coco-Betaine, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Linalool, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzoic Acid, Trideceth-6, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Salicylic Acid, Magnesium Nitrate, Geraniol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citronellol, Sodium Benzoate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Centella Asiatica Extract, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
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 AcidCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycol 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 DistearateHydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".
Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.
Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is 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 ParfumPolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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 BenzoateChances 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 ChlorideWater. 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