What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C12-18 Alkyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPiper Nigrum Seed Oil
Astringent
Betula Pendula Sap
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Water, Sodium C12-18 Alkyl Sulfate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Polysorbate 20, Glyceryl Oleate, Coco-Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Chloride, Piper Nigrum Seed Oil, Betula Pendula Sap, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil, Limonene, Benzoic Acid, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Linalool, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Geraniol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Sulfite
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Surfactant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Laureth-2
CleansingLaureth-4
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Tetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glyceryl Laurate, Glycol Distearate, Parfum, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Laureth-2, Laureth-4, Propylene Glycol, Benzophenone-4, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Linalool, Coumarin, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 47005, CI 16035
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.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
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 BetaineLimonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a small, naturally occurring scent molecule found in plants like lavender, coriander, bergamot, and more.
It is one of the two most-used fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and added purely for smell. Since it's not used for a skin benefit, there's no "effective dose". Concentration depends on the fragrance load of the product.
The EU requires it to be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Fresh linalool is a weak sensitizer but air exposure turns some of it into hydroperoxides, which are strong sensitizers. Those oxidation products are the actual allergy concern.
Patch-test clinics see positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxides in about 4% to 12% of dermatitis patients depending on country and test concentration.
Resassuringly, one analytical study found hydroperoxide levels in real fragranced products to be orders of magnitude below what induced sensitization in animal studies with no evidence of oxidation building up during normal storage.
The practical takeaway is that linalool is fine for most people but worth avoiding if you have a confirmed fragrance contact allergy or a badly compromised barrier.
Products stored a long time after opening are also the high-risk scenario since that is when oxidation happens.
The scent of linalool is described as floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSodium 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 BenzoateChances 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
