What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Betula Alba Juice, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Lauryl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Sodium Benzoate, Niacinamide, Potassium Sorbate, Propanediol, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Limonene, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Betaine
Humectant
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientSpiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Kaolin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Betaine, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, 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 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Cocoyl Glutamate is a gentle cleanser and surfactant. It is the sodium salt of the Cocoyl Glutamic Acid and comes from coconut oil. As a surfactant, it helps lift dirt and oil to be washed away.
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate also has an emolliating effect and can help leave the skin feeling soft.
Water. 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
