What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTea-Sulfate
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
PEG-45m
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPPG-9
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Curcuma Aromatica Root Oil
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Dimethiconol, Sodium Gluconate, Parfum, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, Carbomer, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tea-Sulfate, Citric Acid, Cocamide Mea, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Mica, Disodium EDTA, PEG-45m, Phenoxyethanol, Lysine Hcl, Sodium Hydroxide, PPG-9, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Curcuma Aromatica Root Oil, Silica, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891
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 AcidParfum 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
