What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethanolamine
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-25
CleansingToluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Ceteth-2
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-6
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Hydrosulfite
Silica
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
2-Amino-4-Hydroxyethylaminoanisole Sulfate
2-Methylresorcinol
M-Aminophenol
2-Amino-3-Hydroxypyridine
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Hcl
Hydrogen Peroxide
AntimicrobialSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Oxyquinoline Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Pentasodium Pentetate
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Etidronic Acid
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Keratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Lupine Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-10
Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-7
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Stearalkonium Chloride
Preservative
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Ethanolamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-25, Toluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate, Cocamide Mea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Ceteth-2, Polyquaternium-6, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Dimethicone, Ascorbic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Hydrosulfite, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, 2-Amino-4-Hydroxyethylaminoanisole Sulfate, 2-Methylresorcinol, M-Aminophenol, 2-Amino-3-Hydroxypyridine, 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Hcl, Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Oxyquinoline Sulfate, Pentasodium Pentetate, Phosphoric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Etidronic Acid, Isopropyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Paraffinum Liquidum, Pvp, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stearic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycol Distearate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Lupine Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Panthenol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Polyquaternium-10, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, C11-15 Pareth-7, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-7, Behentrimonium Chloride, Stearalkonium Chloride, Jojoba Esters, Beta-Glucan, Glycolic Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Amodimethicone, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cetrimonium Bromide
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Hydroxide
BufferingCoconut Alcohol
EmollientSodium Laureth-6 Carboxylate
CleansingSodium Myreth Sulfate
Cleansing
Ammonium Sulfate
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylates Copolymer
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
Cleansing
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Silicate
BufferingEtidronic Acid
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogen Peroxide
AntimicrobialSteartrimonium Chloride
Preservative
2,6-Dicarboxypyridine
Disodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Sorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Betaine
Humectant
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Hydroxide, Coconut Alcohol, Sodium Laureth-6 Carboxylate, Sodium Myreth Sulfate, Ammonium Sulfate, Potassium Hydroxide, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylates Copolymer, Coco-Glucoside, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glyceryl Oleate, Parfum, Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Silicate, Etidronic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogen Peroxide, Steartrimonium Chloride, 2,6-Dicarboxypyridine, Disodium Pyrophosphate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Coco-Caprylate, Sorbitan Caprylate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Betaine, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Dehydroacetic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidBenzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholWe don't have a description for Etidronic Acid yet.
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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum.
It is a conditioning ingredient, meaning it helps soften skin and hair.
We don't have a description for Hydrogen Peroxide yet.
Isopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholParaffinum Liquidum is also known as liquid paraffin. It is a type of highly refined mineral oil.
Like other oils, Paraffinum Liquidum has emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. By creating a barrier to trap moisture within, emollients help keep your skin hydrated.
Paraffinum Liquidum does not irritate the skin and is non-comedogenic.
Learn more about Paraffinum LiquidumParfum 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.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolChances 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 ChlorideSodium 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 HydroxideSodium Sulfite is a preservative. Preservatives help prevent mold and bacteria from growing in cosmetics.
This ingredient has been shown to break the bonds in hair, acting as a natural straightener.
It is commonly used in food. It should be noted sodium sulfite degrades both vitamins B1 and E.
Fun fact: Sulfites are naturally occuring in wine.
Learn more about Sodium Sulfite
