What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingKaolin
AbrasivePanthenol
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-87
CleansingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Kaolin, Panthenol, Quaternium-87, Isopropyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingParfum
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBrassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyquaternium-7
Phenethyl Benzoate
EmollientSodium Laurate
CleansingPolyquaternium-10
Coconut Acid
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingGenipa Americana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCorn Starch Modified
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCoumarin
PerfumingHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Betaine, Lauric Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Benzoate, Glycol Distearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyquaternium-7, Phenethyl Benzoate, Sodium Laurate, Polyquaternium-10, Coconut Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Genipa Americana Fruit Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Corn Starch Modified, Glyceryl Stearate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Coumarin, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCitric 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 AcidGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 ParfumSodium 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 BenzoateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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