What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Polyquaternium-10
Amodimethicone
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Surfactant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingMagnesium Nitrate
Linalool
Perfuming
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Coumarin
Perfuming
Tetrasodium EDTA
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Magnesium Chloride
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Coco-Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Chloride, Decyl Glucoside, Parfum, Polyquaternium-10, Amodimethicone, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Tocopherol, Benzophenone-4, Benzoic Acid, Trideceth-6, Magnesium Nitrate, Linalool, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Cetrimonium Chloride, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Coumarin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCeramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingPPG-9
Skin ConditioningCocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Sodium Sulfate
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
PEG-45m
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Ceramide Ng, Arginine, Lysine Hcl, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Dimethiconol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Glycol Distearate, Carbomer, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, PPG-9, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Sulfate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Trehalose, Disodium EDTA, PEG-45m, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Mica, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric 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 AcidGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateLinalool 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 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 BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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
