What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCarrageenan
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Argania Spinosa Shell Powder
Abrasive
Perlite
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
Linalool
Perfuming
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Dextrin
AbsorbentAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Mentha Piperita Extract
CleansingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Carrageenan, Coco-Betaine, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Argania Spinosa Shell Powder, Perlite, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Parfum, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Linalool, Maltodextrin, Benzyl Salicylate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dextrin, Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Mentha Piperita Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Luffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLuffa Cylindrica Fruit
Abrasive
Sodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningRosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingBelamcanda Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquicaprylate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Coco-Betaine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit, Sodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Belamcanda Chinensis Root Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquicaprylate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Parfum, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholCoco-Betaine is the natural version of Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is often derived from coconuts.
Coco-Betaine is a surfactant, meaning it helps remove dirt and oil from the skin.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolChances 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 ChlorideSodium Cocoyl Glutamate is a gentle cleanser and surfactant. It is the sodium salt of the Cocoyl Glutamic Acid and comes from coconut oil. As a surfactant, it helps lift dirt and oil to be washed away.
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate also has an emolliating effect and can help leave the skin feeling soft.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
