What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Betaine
CleansingCocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingC12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingParfum
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Sorbitol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyquaternium-7
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Zinc Ricinoleate
Kojic Acid
AntioxidantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChloramine T
AntimicrobialSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
AntioxidantSodium Carbonate
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Cocamide Mipa, Niacinamide, C12-13 Alketh-9, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Sorbitol, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-7, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Kojic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hexylene Glycol, Propanediol, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Chloramine T, Sodium Bicarbonate, CI 19140, Ascorbic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sodium Carbonate, Limonene, Geraniol, Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPolyquaternium-10
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Liquid Endosperm
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
EmollientBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantAlanine
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingAspartic Acid
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantSucrose
HumectantUrea
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantHexyl Nicotinate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventDextrin
AbsorbentHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingParfum
MaskingGlycerin, Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Polyquaternium-10, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocos Nucifera Liquid Endosperm, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Glucose, Alanine, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Sucrose, Urea, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Hexyl Nicotinate, Propanediol, Dextrin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Geraniol, Linalool, Parfum
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 AcidDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate is a surfactant and helps cleanse skin. It is created from the fatty acids of coconut oil.
Surfactants help rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants easily from skin. It has a faint fruit-like scent.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGeraniol 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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolLinalool 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 ParfumPolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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