What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventPolyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningPotassium Benzoate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xylitol
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSqualane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Glycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Decyl Glucoside, Parfum, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Lauryl Glucoside, Xylitylglucoside, Polyquaternium-7, Anhydroxylitol, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Polyquaternium-47, Potassium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Xylitol, Saccharide Isomerate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Biotin, Ceramide NP, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Glycoproteins, Oligopeptide-2
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingCeteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol
EmulsifyingLaureth-3
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Urtica Dioica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
CI 42053
Cosmetic ColorantMaleic Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-22
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Betaine, Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol, Laureth-3, Glyceryl Laurate, Urtica Dioica Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Parfum, CI 42053, Maleic Acid, Polyquaternium-22, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, CI 15985
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is below the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideLauryl Betaine is a cleansing ingredient. You'll most likely see it in face washes, body washes, and shampoos. It's a type of surfactant that helps water mix with oil so dirt, sweat, and sunscreen can rinse off easily.
Chemically, lauryl betaine is an amphoteric surfactant so it carries both a positive and negative charge. This helps it create a creamy foam while being less harsh than stronger detergent-type cleansers.
According to CIR, this ingredient is generally considered safe when used in cosmetics. However, like all surfactants, it can be irritating when used in high amounts of in formulas that aren't well balanced.
Learn more about Lauryl 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 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 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.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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
