What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Gallic Acid
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Santalum Album Wood Extract
Perfuming
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingNasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Hedera Helix Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientArctium Majus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycol Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Malic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Gallic Acid, Panthenol, Cyanocobalamin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Rose Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Extract
CleansingCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-7
PEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingArachidic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingSilica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, PEG-8, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Mentha Piperita Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polyquaternium-7, PEG-14m, Arachidic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, Oleic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Resveratrol, Silybum Marianum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090, CI 19140, 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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 cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateWater. 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
