What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingPEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
CleansingPalmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Glycol Distearate
EmollientCreatine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPolyacrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSaccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSaccharomyces/Iron Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Copper Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Silicon Ferment
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Decyl Glucoside, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Palmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Creatine, Panthenol, Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone, Sodium Benzoate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Laurate, Propylene Glycol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Alcohol Denat., Parfum, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Polyacrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Potassium Sorbate, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamidopropylamine Oxide
CleansingParfum
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
PEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingGlycol Stearate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAlgin
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantChitosan
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingC12-16 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingCoconut Acid
CleansingCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialSodium Glycolate
BufferingCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantTrimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Parfum, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-150 Distearate, Glycol Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Algin, Glycerin, Chitosan, Trideceth-9, C12-13 Pareth-9, C11-15 Pareth-7, C12-16 Pareth-9, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Trideceth-12, Citric Acid, Coconut Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Glycolate, CI 60730, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool
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 ChlorideLinalool 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 ParfumPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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