What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Polyquaternium-7
Laureth-7 Citrate
CleansingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin Protecting
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Limonene, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Polyquaternium-7, Laureth-7 Citrate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Amyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Eugenol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
CleansingCeteth-20
CleansingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAmmonium Sulfate
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Parfum, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Coco-Betaine, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Ceteth-20, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, Ammonium Sulfate, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzoic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".
Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.
Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool 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 ParfumSodium 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 BenzoateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateWater. 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
