What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingVitis Vinifera Juice
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingCitral
PerfumingCymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientMelissa Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingWater, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sucrose Cocoate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Salicylic Acid, Vitis Vinifera Juice, Sodium Benzoate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Citral, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Potassium Sorbate, Linalool, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientVitis Vinifera Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTapioca Starch
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientPalmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingVitis Vinifera Juice
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingCitral
PerfumingCymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentOrthosiphon Stamineus Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientMelissa Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water, Silica, Squalane, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Glyceryl Stearate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Alcohol Denat., Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Vitis Vinifera Juice, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Mentha Piperita Oil, Citral, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Citronellol, Maltodextrin, Orthosiphon Stamineus Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil, Oleanolic Acid, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term '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.
Learn more about CitralCitric 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 CitronellolCymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil is a fragrance and is an oil.
Geraniol 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 GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLavandula Hybrida Oil is an oil.
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 LinaloolThis ingredient is also known as lemonbalm oil. It is known for its lemon aroma.
Lemonbalm oil contains citral, citronellal, and geraniol. These components are known skin sensitizers and may cause contact dermatitis.
This essential oil is steam-distilled from peppermint leaves, also known as peppermint oil. It's mainly used for scent in skincare but also provides that signature "cooling" sensation.
Peppermint oil is a "feels amazing" ingredient until it doesn't.
At higher doses or for those with sensitive skin, methol-type cooling can quickly turn into burning/irritation. It can also trigger irritant dermatitis or even allergic contact dermatitis. In a large patch-test dataset, peppermint oil had a low but positive rate for this.
In cosmetics, Cosmetic Safety Reviews (CIR) concludes that peppermint oil is safe to use when formulated to be non-sensitizing with some restrictions; for instance, pulegone, a naturally occurring component of peppermint oil, should not exceed 1%.
Since peppermint oil contains fragrance allergens such as limonene, linalool, and menthol, it can be sensitizing for those with rosacea, eczema, a broken skin barrier, or just sensitive skin in general.
In Japan, this ingredient is known as Hakka Yu.
Learn more about Mentha Piperita OilPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil is the pressed oil of the Rose Geranium plant. It is volatile, meaning it evaporates off the skin.
Fragrant components of Rose Geranium include citronellol and geraniol. These may cause allergies and skin-sensitivity. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
The scent of Rose Geranium closely resembles traditional roses.
Learn more about Pelargonium Graveolens Flower OilPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil is an essential oil also known as rosemary essential oil. In skincare, it is a skin conditioning agent and also acts as a natural fragrance that gives products a fresh/herby smell.
The oil is a mix of over 100 volatile compounds with 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, camphor, and verbenone usually leading the pack.
Lab studies credit this oil with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity. Some research even show rosemary compounds calming acne-related inflammation.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be nonsensitizing.
Since this is a fragrant essential oil, the main concern is for fragrance-sensitive folks.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf OilSodium 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 BenzoateVitis Vinifera Juice comes from grapes.
Grapes are rich in skin conditioning ingredients, such as Vitamin E and Vitamin C. It also contains many potent antioxidants: proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Proanthocyanidin has been shown to help even out skin tone.
Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals by donating extra electrons.
This ingredient may help reduce the signs of aging.
Learn more about Vitis Vinifera JuiceWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum