What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingParfum
Masking
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyquaternium-22
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
Emulsifying
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
BHA
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium PCA, PEG-150 Distearate, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-22, Chlorphenesin, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Benzoic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Potassium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, BHA, Citronellol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal
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 AcidDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 ParfumPeg-150 Distearate is an emulsifier and thickening agent. It is created from stearic acid.
As an emulsifier, peg-150 distearate helps other ingredients dissolve. This helps prevent ingredient separation.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-150 DistearateSodium 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 hasnāt been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateThis 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 TaurateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
