What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Esters
EmollientCera Alba
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSorbitol
HumectantLimonene
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyaminopropyl Biguanide
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Cera Alba, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sorbitol, Limonene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialEchinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeJojoba Esters
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingBenzoic Acid
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Diheptyl Succinate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Jojoba Esters, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Eugenol, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.
The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.
In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.
The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.
Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidCitric 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 AcidDehydroacetic Acid is fungicide and bactericide. It is used as a preservative in cosmetics. Preservatives help elongate the shelf life of a product.
Dehydroacetic Acid is not soluble in water.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinWe don't have a description for Humulus Lupulus Extract yet.
Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimonenePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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