What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPPG-9
Skin ConditioningTea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
PEG-45m
HumectantCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Gluconate, Parfum, Dimethiconol, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Carbomer, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, PPG-9, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Cocamide Mea, Disodium EDTA, PEG-45m, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Mica, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Menthol
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCamellia Seed Oil
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-2 Laurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Sulfate
Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Ammonium Lactate
Buffering
PPG-70 Glyceryl Ether
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Menthol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lactic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Camellia Seed Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Royal Jelly Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-2 Laurate, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ammonium Lactate, PPG-70 Glyceryl Ether, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, BHT, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
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 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 BetaineDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAThis ingredient is derived from guar gum.
It is a conditioning ingredient, meaning it helps soften skin and hair.
Parfum 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 BenzoateSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
