What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningPPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Silica
Abrasive
Alumina
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Alcohol Denat., Propanediol, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Silk, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Hexyl Cinnamal, Silica, Alumina, Titanium Dioxide, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Musa Sapientum Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Poloxamer 184
EmulsifyingPolysilicone-15
UV Filter
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Hexylene Glycol, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Musa Sapientum Pulp Extract, Musa Sapientum Peel Extract, Musa Sapientum Leaf Extract, Musa Sapientum Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Poloxamer 184, Polysilicone-15, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, CI 19140, CI 42090
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 AcidHexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.
As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.
Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolParfum 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 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.
Water. 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
