What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olus Oil
Emollient
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningP-Anisic Acid
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Cocoglycerides, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Olus Oil, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, P-Anisic Acid, Glycerin, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Parfum, Myristyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Cetrimonium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTea-Sulfate
Buffering
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
PEG-45m
HumectantCyclotetrasiloxane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Arginine
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfate
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Dimethiconol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Glycol Distearate, Carbomer, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tea-Sulfate, Mica, Citric Acid, Cocamide Mea, PEG-45m, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Titanium Dioxide, Arginine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lysine Hcl, Trehalose, Silica, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, BHT, Sodium Sulfate, CI 15985, CI 19140
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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed 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 ParfumSodium 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
