What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDisiloxane
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPolyacrylamidomethylpropane Sulfonic Acid
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberPolyquaternium-28
Parfum
MaskingTriethanolamine
BufferingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientLauryl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Buteth-3
SolventSodium Benzoate
MaskingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCreatine
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingAlcohol
AntimicrobialTributyl Citrate
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disiloxane, Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polyacrylamidomethylpropane Sulfonic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polyquaternium-28, Parfum, Triethanolamine, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dimethiconol, Lauryl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Buteth-3, Sodium Benzoate, Sclerotium Gum, Creatine, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Mica, CI 77891, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Alcohol, Tributyl Citrate, Citric Acid, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, CI 60730, CI 60725, CI 19140, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantGlycol Distearate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningKeratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantDimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate
EmollientTrimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Myristyl Serinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingC12-16 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingPEG-8/Smdi Copolymer
Benzophenone-4
UV AbsorberDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Tocopherol, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Keratin Amino Acids, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Butylene Glycol, PEG-8, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Palmitoyl Myristyl Serinate, Sodium Polyacrylate, C11-15 Pareth-7, C12-16 Pareth-9, Trideceth-12, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer, Benzophenone-4, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Limonene, Citronellol, Linalool
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 AcidDisodium 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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneParfum 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.
Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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