What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingIsostearyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingFumaric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Dimethicone, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Glycerin, Citric Acid, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Carbomer, Coco-Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Linalool, Limonene, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Fumaric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingDilauryl Thiodipropionate
Antioxidant
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Amodimethicone
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Coumarin
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Cetyl Esters, CI 19140, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Trideceth-6, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Amodimethicone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Caramel, Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Cetrimonium Chloride, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Ceramide AP
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 AcidLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
