What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Laureth-10
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Denatonium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Mea, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Laureth-10, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Disodium EDTA, Benzoic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Denatonium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Alcohol, CI 14700, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
Cleansing
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Succinic Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Pantolactone
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Succinic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Zinc PCA, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Pantolactone, Polysorbate 20, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 ParfumPeg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate is used to improve texture and stability of a product. It is sugar based and helps thicken a product.
Once applied, it also creates a thin film to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
This ingredient is the polyethylene glycol ether of the diester of oleic acid and methylglucose. The 120 represents an average of 120 moles of ethylene oxide.
There is limited research on this ingredient, although it is considered safe to use in skincare products.
Learn more about PEG-120 Methyl Glucose DioleatePhenoxyethanol 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.
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 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.
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 ChlorideSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
