What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Salicylate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMica
Cosmetic Colorant
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingTea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingTea-Sulfate
Buffering
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Laureth-23
CleansingPoloxamer 407
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Cyclotetrasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
PEG-4
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Dimethiconol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone, Parfum, Glycol Distearate, Phenoxyethanol, Piroctone Olamine, Carbomer, Sodium Salicylate, Citric Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Mica, Cocamide Mea, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Tea-Sulfate, Titanium Dioxide, Laureth-23, Poloxamer 407, Sodium Benzoate, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Laureth-4, PEG-4, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Panthenol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingParfum
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-10
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventMenthol
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium EDTA
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Propanediol
Solvent
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Polyquaternium-55
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingPolyquaternium-11
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
EmulsifyingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sorbitol, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Parfum, Caffeine, Alcohol Denat., Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Salicylate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Menthol, Benzyl Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Propanediol, Linalool, Citronellol, Coumarin, Benzyl Salicylate, Polyquaternium-55, Malt Extract, Polyquaternium-11, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
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 BetaineParfum 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.
Sodium 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 BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.
This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideThis ingredient is the sodium salt of salicylic acid, the famous anti-acne ingredient.
Officially, this ingredient is used as a preservative. However, some studies found Sodium Salicylate to have exfoliating properties. Further studies are needed.
Water. 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
