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
SurfactantPEG-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 ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeDimethicone
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Reticulata Peel Oil
MaskingSantalum Album Oil
MaskingJasminum Officinale Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingAleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventIsododecane
EmollientC10-11 Isoparaffin
SolventSilicone Quaternium-17
EmulsifyingDimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate
EmollientTrimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningBasic Blue 99
Basic Red 51
Basic Brown 16
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingC12-16 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingAcrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-37
Benzophenone-4
UV AbsorberTetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSorbic Acid
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Santalum Album Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Isopropyl Alcohol, Isododecane, C10-11 Isoparaffin, Silicone Quaternium-17, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Basic Blue 99, Basic Red 51, Basic Brown 16, C11-15 Pareth-7, C12-16 Pareth-9, Sorbitan Oleate, Trideceth-12, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-37, Benzophenone-4, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, CI 19140
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 ParfumJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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