What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
Masking
Menthol
Masking
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientSodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Lauric Acid, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamide Mea, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Menthol, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metaphosphate, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Lactic Acid, Mentha Piperita Oil, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Limonene, Ascorbic Acid, Betaine, Phytosphingosine, Citric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Propanediol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Madecassoside, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Tocopherol, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Asiatic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate
CleansingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
Masking
Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate, Hydrated Silica, Lauric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Hydroxystearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Ascorbic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Cocamide Mea, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Citric Acid, Zinc Oxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesnât replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin wonât keep absorbing more once itâs full of vitamin C. This is why more isnât always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations donât necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidCitric 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 AcidCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolThis ingredient is made by combining the fatty acids from coconut oil with monoethanolamine. It is an emulsifier that helps boost foam, thicken texture, and help keep ingredients together in a formula.
Hexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumChances 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 ChlorideWater. 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
