What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingDisodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
PEG-2 Cocamide
EmulsifyingGlycol Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantSilk Amino Acids
HumectantHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientPapain
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Urtica Dioica Extract
AstringentAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Keratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningBromelain
Skin ConditioningCreatine
Skin ConditioningApigenin
Antioxidant
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Zinc Picolinate
SoothingGlycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyloctanol
HumectantDicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingSilicone Quaternium-16
Skin Conditioning
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningUndeceth-11
EmollientPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate
Cleansing
Steareth-4
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Undeceth-5
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-10
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Coumarin
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamide Mipa, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-2 Cocamide, Glycol Stearate, Panthenol, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Papain, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Urtica Dioica Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Keratin Amino Acids, Bromelain, Creatine, Apigenin, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Oleanolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Zinc Picolinate, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Isopropyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Butyloctanol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Silicone Quaternium-16, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Glycol Distearate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Undeceth-11, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate, Steareth-4, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Undeceth-5, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Tetradecene
EmollientBHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Sulfate
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Hexadecene
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamide Mea, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Decyl Glucoside, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium PCA, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Tetradecene, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Sulfate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Sodium Sulfite, Hexadecene, Butylene Glycol, Linalool, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric 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 BetaineCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.
It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinParfum 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 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
