What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Bisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl Pg-Propyl Dimethicone
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-37
Isostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate
EmollientPEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingStyrene/Butadiene Copolymer
Squalane
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningMauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Stearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Parfum, Bisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl Pg-Propyl Dimethicone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetyl Esters, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-37, Isostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate, PEG-14m, Styrene/Butadiene Copolymer, Squalane, Citric Acid, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Phosphatidylcholine, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Arginine Hcl, Phenoxyethanol, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Sorbitol
Humectant
Pentapeptide-29 Cysteinamide
Pentapeptide-30 Cysteinamide
Tetrapeptide-28 Argininamide
Tetrapeptide-29 Argininamide
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Algin
Maris Aqua
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingSilicone Quaternium-16
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Undeceth-11
EmollientArginine
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingButyloctanol
HumectantUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingStearyl Dihydroxypropyldimonium Oligosaccharides
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Extracts
CI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamide Mea, Sorbitol, Pentapeptide-29 Cysteinamide, Pentapeptide-30 Cysteinamide, Tetrapeptide-28 Argininamide, Tetrapeptide-29 Argininamide, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Algin, Maris Aqua, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Silicone Quaternium-16, Citric Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Undeceth-11, Arginine, Sodium Citrate, Butyloctanol, Undeceth-5, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Stearyl Dihydroxypropyldimonium Oligosaccharides, Propylene Glycol, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylparaben, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Parfum, Extracts, CI 60730, CI 42090, CI 19140
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.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
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 GlycolThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideParfum 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 ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
