What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-11
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethanolamine
BufferingCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Silicone Quaternium-16
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingUndeceth-11
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Butyloctanol
HumectantUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetic Acid
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamide Mea, Phenoxyethanol, Glycol Stearate, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Polyquaternium-11, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Sodium Citrate, Coconut Acid, Propylene Glycol, Ethanolamine, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Silicone Quaternium-16, Sodium Glycolate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Undeceth-11, Squalane, Butyloctanol, Undeceth-5, Avena Sativa Peptide, Isopropyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate
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 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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis 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.
Propylene 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 GlycolTocopheryl 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 AcetateVitis Vinifera Seed Oil comes from the grape vine. Grape seeds are a byproduct of creating grape juice or wine.
The components of grape seeds have many skin benefits. Research has found it to be antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It also contains many potent antioxidants such as Vitamin E , Vitamin C, proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Proanthocyanidin has been shown to help even out skin tone.
Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals by donating extra electrons. Grape seed extract may help reduce the signs of aging.
The antimicrobial properties of grape seed may help treat acne. However, more research is needed to support this claim.
Grape seed has also been found to help absorb UV rays. Grape seed extract should not replace your sunscreen.
The fatty acids of grape seed oil give it emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin by creating a film. This film traps moisture within, keeping your skin hydrated.
Learn more about Vitis Vinifera Seed OilWater. 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
