What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingErythritol
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientParfum
MaskingPolyquaternium-10
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPPG-9
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glycine
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-39
Malic Acid
BufferingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Erythritol, Coco-Glucoside, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocamide Mea, Glyceryl Oleate, Parfum, Polyquaternium-10, Benzyl Alcohol, PPG-9, Disodium EDTA, Glycine, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-39, Malic Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientPCA Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Spicata Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingGlycine
BufferingTyrosine
MaskingCysteine
AntioxidantLeucine
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Distearate
EmollientIpdi/PEG-15 Soyamine Copolymer Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningTrimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-7
Cetyl Triethylmonium Dimethicone PEG-8 Succinate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
CleansingPanthenyl Ethyl Ether
Citric Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-10
Histidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeMagnesium Chloride
Magnesium Nitrate
Glycerin
HumectantParfum
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, PCA Dimethicone, Cocamide Mipa, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Mentha Spicata Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Glycine, Tyrosine, Cysteine, Leucine, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Distearate, Ipdi/PEG-15 Soyamine Copolymer Dimer Dilinoleate, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, PEG-150 Distearate, Polyquaternium-7, Cetyl Triethylmonium Dimethicone PEG-8 Succinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Histidine Hcl, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Glycerin, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineDisodium 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 EDTAGlycine is the smallest amino acid and a key building block of collagen. It's part if your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
A study from 2022 found that an amino acid complex featuring taurine, arginine, and glycine significantly reduced skin irritation, improved redness, and accelerated the skin repair process.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone, or MCI, is a synthetic preservative used to protect against the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi in water-based products.
MCI is commonly combined with methylisothiazolinone (MI) in a 3:1 ratio.
This ingredient is safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-sensitizing and concentrations must not exceed 7.5 ppm in leave-on products / 15 ppm in rinse-off products.
Unfortunately, this ingredient has a well-documented sensitization story. Studies spanning several decades have shown this ingredient + MI to cause skin irritation and allergies.
The use of this ingredient varies around the world:
This just means this ingredient is most likely non-sensitizing in rinse-off products unless you've been diagnosed with a contact allergy to isothiazolinones.
Learn more about MethylchloroisothiazolinoneMI is a preservative and known skin irritant. In the past, MI was used for its ability to prevent bacteria, yeast, and fungi growth in low doses.
Nowadays, you'll most likely see MI combined with Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI).
Since then, numerous studies have shown this ingredient to cause contact dermatitis, or skin irritation.
The use of this ingredient varies around the world:
Learn more about MethylisothiazolinoneParfum 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 Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateWater. 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