What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethyltrimonium Chloride Methacrylate/Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Copolymer
Phyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone/Morpholinomethyl Silsesquioxane Copolymer
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-5
EmulsifyingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Quaternium-95
UV AbsorberPPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
Emulsifying
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLactic Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Glycerin, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethyltrimonium Chloride Methacrylate/Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Copolymer, Phyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Amodimethicone/Morpholinomethyl Silsesquioxane Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Trideceth-5, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Quaternium-95, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 16035, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-30
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Arginine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Serine
Masking
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningSafflower Glucoside
Geraniol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycol Distearate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Coco-Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Alcohol Denat., Polyquaternium-30, Salicylic Acid, Carbomer, Hexyl Cinnamal, Arginine, Glutamic Acid, Linalool, Citronellol, Serine, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Safflower Glucoside, Geraniol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate
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 AcidCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalLinalool 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 LinaloolParfum 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.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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
