What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientLauric Acid
CleansingPEG-32
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingLimonene
PerfumingArachidic Acid
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Oleic Acid
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingPiroctone Olamine
PreservativeWater, PEG-8, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Palmitic Acid, Lauric Acid, PEG-32, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Limonene, Arachidic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Polyquaternium-7, Oleic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Linalool, C12-13 Pareth-9, Piroctone Olamine
Myristic Acid
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycol Distearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingNepeta Cataria Extract
TonicAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningStellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningBaptisia Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEchinacea Angustifolia Extract
MoisturisingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentDextrin
AbsorbentTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrisodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingParfum
MaskingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingMyristic Acid, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Nepeta Cataria Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Stellaria Media Extract, Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Dextrin, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trisodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Parfum, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil is the oil from the bergamot orange and is primarily used as a fragrance. It has a "fresh" and "bright orange" scent.
The main aroma compounds found in this ingredient are limonene (~27-52%), linalool (~2-22%), and linalyl acetate (~27-40%). These are known EU fragrance allergens.
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.
When used topically, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil is a photosensitizer due to the furanocoumarin content. Furanocoumarins absorb UV-A and cause phytophotodermatitis; this can look like redness, blistering, and lasting brown pigmentation on sun-exposed skin.
Due to this, this ingredient is capped at 0.4% in leave-on products applied to sun exposed skin.
Many modern formulas used a "furanocoumarin-free" version that sidesteps the phototoxicity issue, but still contains the fragrance allergens.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit OilGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
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 LimoneneLinalool 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 LinaloolThis tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Tea Tree plant. Tea tree oil has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
According to the book Journal of Profiles of Drug Substances, tea tree helps in reducing acne-causing bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes. This is due to the Terpinen components of tea tree oil.
Tea tree may cause sensitivity and irritation for some people. This oil naturally contains fragrance such as linalool and limonene.
However, research shows irritation usually occurs when using pure tea tree oil and not in cosmetic products.
Tea tree oil was found to help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis in one study.
Tea tree oil is toxic when ingested. Another study showed it to caused damage to the nervous system of dogs and cats when applied to their skin or given orally.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil is oil expressed from the leaves of the rosemary plant.
Rosemary Leaf Oil is a fragrance and helps give your product a scent. If you are sensitive to irritating fragrances, this one contains camphor. Camphor has been found to irritate skin.
This oil also contains antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. As an antioxidant, it may protect you skin against damage. This can help slow down the signs of aging.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf OilThis gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
According to the manufacturer, it is soluble in water and has resistance to hard water, acid, and alkali.
Due to its coconut base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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