What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSilicone Quaternium-8
Spirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
MoisturisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningSambucus Nigra Flower Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePolyquaternium-59
UV AbsorberCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingCystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningPCA
HumectantGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Citric Acid
BufferingHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Silicone Quaternium-8, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Panthenol, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Sambucus Nigra Flower Water, Glycolic Acid, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Trideceth-10, Potassium Sorbate, Polyquaternium-59, Cetrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, PCA, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Citric Acid, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientArginine
MaskingAvena Sativa Peptide
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSilicone Quaternium-16
Skin ConditioningAminopropyl Dimethicone
Disodium EDTA
Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantUndeceth-11
EmollientSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeC10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate
PEG-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingButyloctanol
HumectantC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingC12-16 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingPEG-6 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeCitronellol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Myristyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Arginine, Avena Sativa Peptide, Phosphatidylcholine, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Arginine Hcl, Silicone Quaternium-16, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Undeceth-11, Steartrimonium Chloride, C10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate, PEG-4 Laurate, Butyloctanol, C11-15 Pareth-7, Citric Acid, Undeceth-5, C12-16 Pareth-9, Glycerin, Trideceth-12, PEG-6 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Aminomethyl Propanol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.
As a cosmetic ingredient, Arginine has antioxidant properties and can also help repair damaged skin. This ingredient is derived either synthetically or from animals.
Arginine isn't fungal acne safe when used in the presence of other lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters, etc). Oils and fats occur naturally within the skin, so take caution when using Arginine if you're prone to fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric 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 AcidCocos Nucifera Oil is obtained from the kernels of the coconut fruit. In other words, this is coconut oil.
Coconut Oil is rich in fatty acids with lauric acid making up the majority of these. It also contains linoleic acid. Due to this high fatty acid content, coconut oil helps trap moisture and soften skin.
Despite being antibacterial, coconut oil may not be great for acne-prone skin. It is comedogenic and may clog pores. This ingredient may not be safe for malassezia or fungal acne.
Note: Coconut Oil should not replace your sunscreen for UV protection. Studies show it only blocks about 20% of UV.
This oil is non-volatile and has a light scent.
The term '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.
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water