What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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
Isostearamide Mipa
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingParfum
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dimethicone Propyl Pg-Betaine
Cleansing
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Polyquaternium-7
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-73
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingFumaric Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
CI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Isostearamide Mipa, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Parfum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dimethicone Propyl Pg-Betaine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-4, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Gluconate, Polyquaternium-73, Coconut Acid, Sodium Chloride, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Hydroxide, Fumaric Acid, Lactic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, CI 60730, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Polyquaternium-55
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate
Emollient
Polyquaternium-72
Polyquaternium-7
Citric Acid
Buffering
Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Laneth-40 Maleate/Styrene Sulfonate Copolymer
Ethyltrimonium Chloride Methacrylate/Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Copolymer
Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
PEG-16 Macadamia Glycerides
Emollient
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycol Distearate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Parfum, Polyquaternium-55, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, Polyquaternium-72, Polyquaternium-7, Citric Acid, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Laneth-40 Maleate/Styrene Sulfonate Copolymer, Ethyltrimonium Chloride Methacrylate/Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Copolymer, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Amodimethicone, Trideceth-12, Pyridoxine Hcl, Propylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Silica, PEG-16 Macadamia Glycerides, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Sorbic Acid
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 AcidCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineGlycol Distearate serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.
It's often included in cleansers and haircare products to give them a lustrous or shimmering appearance.
It is derived from stearic acid, a natural fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats.
Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateThis 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateWater. 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
