What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Sh-Oligopeptide-78
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Salicylic Acid, Charcoal Powder, Sh-Oligopeptide-78, Panthenol, Glycerin, Sodium Phytate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingBetaine
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Succinic Acid
BufferingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingDimethicone Propyl Pg-Betaine
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Polyquaternium-7
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingSodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Avena Sativa Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Fumaric Acid
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Succinic Acid, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Dimethicone Propyl Pg-Betaine, Parfum, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Arginine, Polyquaternium-7, Citric Acid, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-4, Sodium Gluconate, Coconut Acid, Sodium Chloride, Benzoic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Avena Sativa Peptide, Fumaric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Salicylate is a solvent and fragrance additive. It is an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid. This ingredient can be naturally found in some plants and plant extracts.
In fragrances, Benzyl Salicylate may be a solvent or a fragrance component. In synthetic musk scents, it is used as a solvent. For floral fragrances such as lilac and jasmine, it is used as a fragrance component. The natural scent of Benzyl Salicylate is described as "lightly-sweet, slightly balsamic".
While Benzyl Salicylate has been associated with contact dermatitis and allergies, emerging studies show it may not be caused by this ingredient alone.
However, this ingredient is often used with fragrances and other components that may cause allergies. It is still listed as a known allergen in the EU. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Another study from 2021 shows Benzyl Salicylate may have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Benzyl SalicylateCitric 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 AcidThis ingredient is derived from guar gum.
It is a conditioning ingredient, meaning it helps soften skin and hair.
Parfum 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 ParfumSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a cleansing agent made from a mixture of long chain sulfonate salts. It can also help produce foam.
This ingredient may be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Sodium 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
