What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-30
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Menthol
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Magnesium Sulfate
Polysorbate 21
Emulsifying
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Alcohol Denat., Polyquaternium-30, Salicylic Acid, Menthol, Benzoic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Polysorbate 21, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
Masking
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingPPG-9
Skin ConditioningCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
PEG-45m
HumectantVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Chloride, Dimethiconol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Carbomer, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, PPG-9, Cocamide Mea, Disodium EDTA, PEG-45m, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Linalool, CI 19140, CI 17200, 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.
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 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.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
