What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamide Dipa
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-70
PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tilia Tomentosa Bud Extract
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Laureth-10
EmulsifyingCocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-20 Glyceryl Laurate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tetrasodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Cocamide Dipa, Polyquaternium-70, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tilia Tomentosa Bud Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate, Glycol Distearate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laureth-10, Cocamide Mea, Polysorbate 20, PEG-20 Glyceryl Laurate, Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Linoleic Acid, Parfum, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningVp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer
Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil
Skin Protecting
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Urtica Dioica Extract
AstringentMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycine
Buffering
Pouteria Sapota Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Lauryl Betaine, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine, Pouteria Sapota Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Zinc Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzalkonium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
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 GlycerinParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
