What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingParfum
MaskingLactamide Mea
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingLauric Acid
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Propylene Glycol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantSodium Sarcosinate
Tetrasodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Glyceryl Laurate
EmulsifyingGlucose
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantLinoleic Acid
CleansingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, Lactamide Mea, Glycerin, Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Xylitylglucoside, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium PCA, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Citric Acid, Lauric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Propylene Glycol, Xylitol, Sodium Sarcosinate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-20 Glyceryl Laurate, Glucose, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPhyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycol Distearate
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantLauryl Methyl Gluceth-10 Hydroxypropyldimonium Chloride
Amodimethicone/Morpholinomethyl Silsesquioxane Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTrideceth-5
EmulsifyingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingQuaternium-95
UV AbsorberPPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzoic Acid
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Glycerin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract, Glycol Distearate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium PCA, Lauryl Methyl Gluceth-10 Hydroxypropyldimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone/Morpholinomethyl Silsesquioxane Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Trideceth-5, Dehydroacetic Acid, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Quaternium-95, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzoic Acid, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 47005, CI 61570, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is a fragrance. It can be synthetically created or naturally occurring.
The scent of Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is described as "flowery" but can also be "woody".
Naturally occurring Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone may be found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or the yeast used to make wine and bread.
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 Alpha-Isomethyl IononeYou may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 ParfumPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate is an emulsifier, thickener, and mild conditioner.
It's made by esterifying and pentaerythritol with stearic acid, and then attaching 150 units of ethylene oxide to make it water-friendly.
This structure lets it bridge oil and water to prevent ingredients from separating and keep formulas stable. It is also the reason it gives cosmetics a creamy feel without the greasiness.
The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be well-tolerated. Human repeated patch testing on the undiluted version has come back negative for irritation and sensitization. On top of that, its large molecule size makes skin penetration unlikely.
Usage concentration ranges from 5% in rinse-off to 1.8% in leave-on formulas.
Because this ingredient is derived from stearic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl TetrastearatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium 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 PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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