What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-10
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
CleansingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientOenocarpus Bataua Fruit Oil
EmollientTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPolyisobutene
Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentPropanediol
SolventYucca Schidigera Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
CleansingIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingQuartz
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Citrate
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantArginine
MaskingGlucose
HumectantGlycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
PreservativeCalcium Gluconate
HumectantWater, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lauric Acid, Caffeine, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Oenocarpus Bataua Fruit Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Squalane, Polyisobutene, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Yucca Schidigera Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Isostearyl Isostearate, Propylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Quartz, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Caprylyl Glycol, Stearic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Lactic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Arginine, Glucose, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Citric Acid, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Extract, Gluconolactone, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sorbic Acid, Calcium Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientYucca Schidigera Stem Extract
CleansingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Yucca Schidigera Stem Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid
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 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 BetaineEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract comes from the witch hazel plant.
Witch Hazel is an astringent, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial ingredient.
The tannin in witch hazel has a drying effect when used on skin and constricts proteins. This helps minimize the look of large pores. The presence of tannins and fragrance may be sensitizing.
The catechins in witch hazel have anti-inflammatory properties while the gallic acid is antibacterial.
Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation, which was then used by early settlers to North America.
Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf ExtractParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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.
Polyquaternium-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-10Chances 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 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water