What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantParfum
MaskingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-22
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialBenzoic Acid
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Dehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantChlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePotassium Benzoate
PreservativeBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingAmyl Salicylate
PerfumingWater, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycerin, Parfum, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium PCA, PEG-150 Distearate, Polyquaternium-22, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Amyl Salicylate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientCocamidopropylamine Oxide
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Sarcosinate
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco/Isostearamide
Parfum
MaskingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningLaureth-4
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Sulfate
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingSilicone Quaternium-8
Polyquaternium-7
Laureth-3
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Polyquaternium-44
Xylityl Sesquicaprylate
AntimicrobialSodium Laurate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydrogen Peroxide
AntimicrobialBenzoic Acid
MaskingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEDTA
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Sarcosinate, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco/Isostearamide, Parfum, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Glyceryl Oleate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Laureth-4, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Sulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Silicone Quaternium-8, Polyquaternium-7, Laureth-3, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polyquaternium-44, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Sodium Laurate, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogen Peroxide, Benzoic Acid, Anhydroxylitol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, EDTA, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.
The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.
In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.
The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.
Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidCitric 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 Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.
It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.
Disodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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.
Potassium 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 SorbateSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate is an organic salt with a naturally sweet odor. It is an alternative to traditional sulfates and is commonly found in "sulfate-free" products.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is used to increase the volume of foam, emulsify ingredients, and as a cleansing agent.
As a cleansing agent, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate helps reduce the surface tension of dirt, oil, and other pollutants so they can be rinsed away easily.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review found this ingredient to irritate the eyes and skin in concentrations of 0.18% and 0.7%.
Learn more about Sodium Lauryl SulfoacetateWater. 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