What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Seed Protein
AntioxidantOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPotassium Laureth-4 Carboxylate
Polyquaternium-22
C12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate
CleansingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingCoconut Acid
CleansingPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Glyceryl Oleate
EmollientSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPhytic Acid
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveCalcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Oryza Sativa Extract, Allantoin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Laureth-4 Carboxylate, Polyquaternium-22, C12-13 Pareth-9, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Arginine, Coconut Acid, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Dicaprylyl Ether, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Propanediol, Maltodextrin, Phytic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Gluconolactone, Silica, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Benzoic Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methylalanine
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingLauramide DEA
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingZinc Lauroyl Aspartate
Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantArginine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingGlucose Glutamate
HumectantProline
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingAspartic Acid
MaskingValine
MaskingSerine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingHistidine
HumectantIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Ceramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningAspergillus/Rice Ferment Extract
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientOryza Sativa Germ Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningArbutin
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientKeratin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-10
Polyquaternium-50
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPCA
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingCholesterol
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCocamide DEA
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPEG-160 Sorbitan Triisostearate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCocamide Methyl Mea
Isopentyldiol
HumectantZea Mays Oil
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingPEG-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingGlycol Distearate
EmollientAcetic Acid
BufferingAmmonium Ferric Pentetate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methylalanine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauramide DEA, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Zinc Lauroyl Aspartate, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Retinyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Arginine, Alanine, Glucose Glutamate, Proline, Glycine, Aspartic Acid, Valine, Serine, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Threonine, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Aspergillus/Rice Ferment Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Squalane, Keratin, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-50, Butylene Glycol, PCA, Sodium PCA, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lactate, Cholesterol, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamide DEA, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Polysorbate 20, PEG-160 Sorbitan Triisostearate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Isopentyldiol, Zea Mays Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-3 Distearate, Glycol Distearate, Acetic Acid, Ammonium Ferric Pentetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineCitric 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 BetaineDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is below the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosidePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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