What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Acrylates/Aminoacrylates/C10-30 Alkyl PEG-20 Itaconate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingAcetic Acid
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Amodimethicone
Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningLaureth-9
EmulsifyingMagnesium Chloride
Magnesium Nitrate
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
PEG-10 Sunflower Glycerides
EmollientPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Surfactant
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPoly(C20-28 Olefin)
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Sulfate
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Coumarin
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Acrylates/Aminoacrylates/C10-30 Alkyl PEG-20 Itaconate Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Acetic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Amodimethicone, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, C11-15 Pareth-7, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Glycol Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Laureth-9, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Parfum, PEG-10 Sunflower Glycerides, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Poly(C20-28 Olefin), Polyquaternium-10, Propylene Glycol, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Sulfate, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Trideceth-12, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Chlorphenesin, Ethylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene
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 AcidCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineParfum 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 ParfumPolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Sodium 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 BenzoateSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier. It is a surfactant derived from sarcosine, and a common source is coconut oil.
As a surfactant, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate helps lift dirts, oil, and other molecules to be washed away. In leave-on products, this ingredient is used as an emulsifier. Emulsifier help prevent ingredients such as oils and waters from separating.
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is also commonly found as a foaming agent in shampoo, toothpaste, and shaving foam. It is amphiphilic, meaning it loves both water and fats.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl SarcosinateWater. 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
