What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLauramine Oxide
CleansingTea-Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantLauramide DEA
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingPPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-10
Betaine
HumectantChitosan
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantZein
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauramine Oxide, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Lauramide DEA, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Betaine, Chitosan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Dipropylene Glycol, Zein, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Pentylene Glycol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Seed Protein
AntioxidantOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPotassium Laureth-4 Carboxylate
Polyquaternium-22
C12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate
CleansingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingCoconut Acid
CleansingPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Glyceryl Oleate
EmollientSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPhytic Acid
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveCalcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Decyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Oryza Sativa Extract, Allantoin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Laureth-4 Carboxylate, Polyquaternium-22, C12-13 Pareth-9, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Arginine, Coconut Acid, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Dicaprylyl Ether, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Propanediol, Maltodextrin, Phytic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Gluconolactone, Silica, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Benzoic Acid, Parfum
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 BetaineGlycerin (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 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 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