What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningC12-13 Pareth-2
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingSodium Sulfate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Isopropanolamine
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPolyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-16
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide Mipa, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, PEG-12 Dimethicone, C12-13 Pareth-2, Sodium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Sulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, PEG-150 Distearate, Disodium EDTA, Isopropanolamine, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Zea Mays Starch, Panthenol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-16, Biotin, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingIsostearamide Mipa
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-22
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-10
Glyceryl Laurate
EmollientDisodium EDTA-Copper
AstringentDisodium EDTA
Sodium PCA
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingKeratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitral
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Isostearamide Mipa, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Decyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Quaternium-22, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Glyceryl Laurate, Disodium EDTA-Copper, Disodium EDTA, Sodium PCA, Citric Acid, Keratin Amino Acids, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, CI 60730
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Benzoate is usually created from the condensation of benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. It is used as a preservative, solvent, and has a floral/balsamic scent in large amounts.
As a preservative, Benzyl Benzoate works against bacteria and fungus. It is often used to treat scabies and lice in medicine.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Due to its fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate can be sensitizing and may cause contact dermatitis. It is a known EU allergen. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Benzyl Benzoate can be naturally found in cranberries and peaches.
Learn more about Benzyl BenzoateCitric 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 BetaineDisodium 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 EDTAPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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-12 Dimethicone is a type of water-soluble silicone. It has skin conditioning and hydrating properties.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient's stability is decreased by strong acid or alkali.
Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate is created from polyethylene glycol and fatty acids from coconut oil.
It is a synthetic polymer with emulsifying and cleansing properties.
As an emulsifier, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate prevents ingredients such as oils and water from separating. It also helps rinse away oils, dirt, and pollutants from skin.
Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate may not be fungal acne safe. It can also dry out skin.
Learn more about PEG-7 Glyceryl CocoatePhenoxyethanol 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.
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.
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 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 SulfateWater. 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