What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Sideritis Scardica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Propanediol, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Benzoic Acid, Bioflavonoids, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Lactic Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Panthenol, Parfum, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sideritis Scardica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Isohexadecane
EmollientAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Symphytum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isohexadecane, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Betaine, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Geraniol, Citronellol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.
The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.
In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.
The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.
Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPotassium 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 SorbatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 BenzoateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
