What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Cetyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNephelium Lappaceum Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientSapindus Trifoliatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Polyquaternium-22
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cetyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Nephelium Lappaceum Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Sapindus Trifoliatus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Cocos Nucifera Water, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Phospholipids, Glycol Distearate, Polyquaternium-22, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Laureth-4, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Linalool, Citric Acid
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 BetaineParfum 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 ParfumSodium 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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
