What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Water
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPullulan
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Malus Domestica Fruit Water, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Coco-Glucoside, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Inulin, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Parfum, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xylitol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPhyllostachys Bambusoides Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Parfum
Masking
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Maris Sal, Glyceryl Oleate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Benzoate, Xylitol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Gluconate, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Parfum
Reviews
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 AcidCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinLauryl Glucoside sugar- and lipid-based cleansing agent. It is created from glucose and lauryl alcohol.
This ingredient is a surfactant, making it easier to rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants away.
A British study found lauryl glucoside to cause skin sensitivity for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Other names for this ingredient include "Lauryl Polyglucose", "Lauryl glycoside", and "D-Glucopyranoside".
Learn more about Lauryl GlucosideParfum 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 ParfumPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateWater. 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
