What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantHydrated Silica
AbrasiveAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Isethionate
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
MaskingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingJojoba Esters
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingSodium Isethionate
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Methyltaurate
Skin ConditioningSodium Sulfate
Caprylic Acid
CleansingLactic Acid
BufferingUndecylenic Acid
CleansingCapric Acid
CleansingZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitic Acid
EmollientArachidic Acid
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingGlycine
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Lauric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Cocamide Mea, Stearic Acid, Hydroxystearic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Hydroxide, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Capryloyl Glycine, Sodium Isethionate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Methyltaurate, Sodium Sulfate, Caprylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Undecylenic Acid, Capric Acid, Zinc Oxide, Palmitic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Citric Acid, Glycine, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77007
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSalicylic Acid
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientParfum
MaskingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantPolyquaternium-7
Castoryl Maleate
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeZinc PCA
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentMannitol
HumectantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Linalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCI 51319
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Salicylic Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Parfum, Polysorbate 20, Niacinamide, Betaine, Polyquaternium-7, Castoryl Maleate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Phenoxyethanol, Zinc PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Mannitol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalyl Acetate, Geranyl Acetate, Citral, CI 51319, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerCitric 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 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 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 LimoneneLinalool 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 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