What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingArginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
MaskingSerine
Masking
Valine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Phenylalanine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
BufferingPolyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-10
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Isoleucine, Threonine, Phenylalanine, Histidine, PCA, Sodium PCA, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamide Dipa
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Niacin
Smoothing
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantThiamine Hcl
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-39
Polyester-37
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Cocamide Dipa, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin, Cyanocobalamin, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine Hcl, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-150 Distearate, Polyquaternium-39, Polyester-37, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Benzyl Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl 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 BetaineEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
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 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.
Polyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
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 BenzoateSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a cleansing agent made from a mixture of long chain sulfonate salts. It can also help produce foam.
This ingredient may be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
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
