What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-55
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningCrambe Maritima Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingParfum
Masking
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-55, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Propanediol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Stearyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Crambe Maritima Leaf Extract, Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Parfum, Ceteareth-20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Potassium Benzoate, Dimethicone, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Steareth-21
CleansingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Malic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG-23m
Emulsion StabilisingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingOleic Acid
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Citronellol
Perfuming
Histidine
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Citric Acid
Buffering
Geraniol
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Water, Isohexadecane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Parfum, Stearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Steareth-21, Panthenol, Malic Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-23m, Steareth-2, Sodium Hydroxide, Laureth-7, Oleic Acid, Squalane, Linalool, Disodium EDTA, Citronellol, Histidine, Silica, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Citric Acid, Geraniol, BHT, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
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 AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 EDTAParfum 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.
Sodium 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 BenzoateStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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
