What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentButane
Isobutane
Propane
Butylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAcetum
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPolyquaternium-4
Parfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeChrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Citronellol
Perfuming3-Methyl-5-(2,2,3-Trimethyl-3-Cyclopentenyl)Pent-4-En-2-Ol
PerfumingDimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate
PerfumingWater, Distarch Phosphate, Butane, Isobutane, Propane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Acetum, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-4, Parfum, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Limonene, Geraniol, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Citronellol, 3-Methyl-5-(2,2,3-Trimethyl-3-Cyclopentenyl)Pent-4-En-2-Ol, Dimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
Dimethyl Ether
SolventAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDimethylimidazolidinone Rice Starch
AbsorbentDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSarcosine
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningQuercus Suber Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingHexamethylindanopyran
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingTerpineol
MaskingHydrofluorocarbon 152a, Dimethyl Ether, Alcohol Denat., Dimethylimidazolidinone Rice Starch, Distarch Phosphate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Water, Capryloyl Glycine, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Coco-Glucoside, Sarcosine, Dipropylene Glycol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Quercus Suber Bark Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Hexamethylindanopyran, Geraniol, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Terpineol
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 AcidCoco-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-GlucosideWe don't have a description for Distarch Phosphate yet.
Geraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolLinalyl Acetate is the acetate ester of linalool and can be naturally found in many flowers and spice plants.
This ingredient is often used to add a scent or mask an unpleasant one in products.
Linalyl acetate is mildly toxic to humans and toxic to fish.
Learn more about Linalyl AcetateParfum 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 ParfumPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateThis ingredient is also known as ISO E Super. It is a synthetic perfuming and masking ingredient.
The manufacturer describes this scnet as amber and woody.
According to the EU, this ingredient is a known allergen and some people may develop skin sensitivity from repeated exposure.
Learn more about Tetramethyl AcetyloctahydronaphthalenesWater. 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