What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysilicone-29
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Silicone Quaternium-8
Silicone Quaternium-22
Trideceth-10
CleansingPolyglyceryl-3 Caprate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Polyacrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Polysilicone-29, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Silicone Quaternium-8, Silicone Quaternium-22, Trideceth-10, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polyacrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysilicone-29
Silicone Quaternium-18
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
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 AcidDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPolysilicone-29 is a complex silicone polymer. It is also known as Silsoft™ CLX-E.
The manufacturer states this ingredient is a conditioning agent for hair care. The website states this ingredient can help hydrate and repair hair.
It is made up of glycidoxypropyl-terminated dimethyl siloxane polymer, peg-13 diglycidyl ether, diethylaminopropylamine, and aminopropyltriisopropoxysilane.
Learn more about Polysilicone-29Water. 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
