What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Methylpropanediol
SolventOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningSaponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Cetylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialCocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Methylpropanediol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 80, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-8
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Poloxamer 184
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-15 Glyceryl Isostearate
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
2-Hydroxyethyl Acrylate
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Butylene Glycol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-8, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Poloxamer 184, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-15 Glyceryl Isostearate, Chlorphenesin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, 2-Hydroxyethyl Acrylate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citric Acid
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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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
