What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOryza Sativa Germ Powder
Abrasive
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Juglans Regia Shell Powder
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-18 Glyceryl Oleate/Cocoate
Emulsifying
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Oryza Sativa Germ Powder, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, PEG-18 Glyceryl Oleate/Cocoate, CI 14700, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Pumice
Abrasive
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Menthol
Masking
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentHydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cinnamal
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Cinnamate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Pumice, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Menthol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzoic Acid, Punica Granatum Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Hydroxycitronellal, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Sorbic Acid, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Potassium Sorbate, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Linalool, Tocopherol, Cinnamal, Isoeugenol, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Benzyl Cinnamate, Citronellol, Farnesol, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl 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 BetaineGlycerin (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 ParfumPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Potassium 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 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 BenzoateChances 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.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
