What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitronellol
Perfuming
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Water
MaskingHydroxypropyltrimonium Lemon Protein
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Cetyl Esters, Amodimethicone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Trideceth-6, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Limonene, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Linalool, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citronellol, Cetrimonium Chloride, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Lemon Protein, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingBetaine
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingDimethicone Propyl Pg-Betaine
Cleansing
Arginine
Masking
Avena Sativa Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningIsostearamide Mipa
SurfactantPolyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-7
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate
Emollient
PEG-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Quaternium-80
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingMethoxy PEG/PPG-7/3 Aminopropyl Dimethicone
Tetrasodium EDTA
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantC10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Dimethicone Propyl Pg-Betaine, Arginine, Avena Sativa Peptide, Phosphatidylcholine, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Arginine Hcl, Glycol Distearate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Isostearamide Mipa, Polyquaternium-47, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Laureth-4, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, PEG-4 Laurate, Quaternium-80, Methyl Gluceth-10, Methoxy PEG/PPG-7/3 Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Glyceryl Laurate, Tocopherol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, C10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Citronellol, 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 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 CitronellolParfum 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 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
