What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingArginine
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingBulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAbies Sibirica Oil
MaskingArtemisia Herba-Alba Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingJuniperus Virginiana Wood Oil
PerfumingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientOriganum Majorana Herb Oil
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingCoumarin
PerfumingSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAbies Balsamea Extract
PerfumingJuniperus Communis Fruit Oil
MaskingPiper Nigrum Fruit Oil
MaskingThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citric Acid, Arginine, Linalool, Bulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil, Isopropyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Abies Sibirica Oil, Artemisia Herba-Alba Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Wood Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Origanum Majorana Herb Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Coumarin, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Abies Balsamea Extract, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Piper Nigrum Fruit Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientSodium Lactate
BufferingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLauryl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGalactoarabinan
Papain
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientDisodium Phosphate
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientProtease
ExfoliatingSubtilisin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningFrog Fat Extract
HumectantWater, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Coco-Glucoside, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Lactate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Lauryl Alcohol, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Glyceryl Stearate, Galactoarabinan, Papain, Disodium EDTA, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Benzoic Acid, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium Phosphate, Stearyl Alcohol, Protease, Subtilisin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Tocopherol, Poria Cocos Extract, Frog Fat Extract
Reviews
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 BetaineCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Oleate is the ester of glycerin and oleic acid. This ingredient is mainly an emollient and emulsifier.
Emollients soften and hydrate the skin by creating a thin film on top to trap in moisture. As an emulsifier, glyceryl oleate helps stabilize formulations by preventing ingredients such as oil and water from separating. According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps helps thicken water-in-oil formulations, shower gels, and hair shampoos.
In some products, this ingredient may be used as a fragrance / perfuming ingredient. The scent of this ingredient is described to be "waxy".
Glyceryl oleate is created from oils rich in oleic acid, such as peanut oil and olive oil.
This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Glyceryl OleateHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate isn't fungal acne safe.
Parfum 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.
Chances 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 ChlorideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum