What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningFragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterParfum
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycine
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingMagnesium Nitrate
Magnesium Chloride
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Dicaprylyl Ether, Decyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Parfum, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Glycine, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Citrate, Magnesium Nitrate, Magnesium Chloride, CI 16035, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientTilia Tomentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningSargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientSantalum Album Oil
MaskingAmyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingElettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
MaskingFerula Galbaniflua Resin Oil
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Biotin, Panthenol, Glycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Tilia Tomentosa Extract, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Santalum Album Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Parfum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideParfum 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 ParfumTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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