What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientQuaternium-87
CleansingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePanthenyl Ethyl Ether
Citric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberParfum
MaskingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Behenyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Quaternium-87, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Propylene Glycol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Parfum, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, Isopropyl Alcohol, CI 17200, CI 16035
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
MaskingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmodimethicone
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSteareth-6
EmulsifyingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCoco-Betaine
CleansingTrideceth-3
EmulsifyingLimonene
PerfumingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantAcetic Acid
BufferingFumaric Acid
BufferingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Amodimethicone, Carbomer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-10, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Mica, PEG-100 Stearate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-6, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Coco-Betaine, Trideceth-3, Limonene, CI 77891, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Citronellol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Acetic Acid, Fumaric Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
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 AcidCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 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