What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientParfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycol Distearate
EmollientTea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
PEG-45m
HumectantPPG-7
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Dimethiconol, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-45m, PPG-7, Lactic Acid, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Mica, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamidopropylamine Oxide
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingDi-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate
EmollientCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingGlycol Distearate
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Glycerin
HumectantAmodimethicone
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingLaureth-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantDimethyl Sulfone
SolventPolyquaternium-10
Taurine
BufferingAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Cinnamate
PerfumingTetrasodium EDTA
Citronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCalcium Pantothenate
Alcohol Denat. Sd Alcohol 40
SolventTocopherol
AntioxidantAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingPEG-35 Castor Oil
EmulsifyingInositol
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantPolyquaternium-11
Arginine
MaskingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientAcetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningArctium Majus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingOrnithine Hcl
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitrulline
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Hydrolyzed Proanthocyanidin
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, PEG-150 Distearate, Di-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate, Cocamide Mea, Glycol Distearate, Polysorbate 20, Caffeine, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, C11-15 Pareth-7, Laureth-9, Trideceth-12, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Wheat Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Dimethyl Sulfone, Polyquaternium-10, Taurine, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Cinnamate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, CI 15985, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Alcohol Denat. Sd Alcohol 40, Tocopherol, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Linoleic Acid, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Inositol, Copper Tripeptide-1, CI 14700, Polyquaternium-11, Arginine, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Acetyl Tyrosine, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Niacinamide, Ornithine Hcl, Zinc Gluconate, Citrulline, Glucosamine Hcl, Hydrolyzed Proanthocyanidin, Citric Acid
Reviews
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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalLinalool 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 LinaloolNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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 WaterZinc gluconate has antibacterial and wound healing properties. It is particularly effective against fighting inflammatory acne.
This ingredient is the zinc salt of the PHA gluconic acid. PHAs are gentle cousins to AHAs.