What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Carnitine
CleansingGarcinia Cambogia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Chloride
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Lauric Acid, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Myristic Acid, Cocamide Mea, Salicylic Acid, Carnitine, Garcinia Cambogia Fruit Extract, Maris Sal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Trisodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Carnitine
CleansingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Palmitic Acid, Cocamide Mea, Glycol Distearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Carnitine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Polyquaternium-7, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Trisodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as Levocarnitine or L-Carnitine. It is an amino acid derivative naturally found in our bodies.
Biologically, carnitine plays a key role in cellular energy production. It transports fatty acids into the mitochondria (say it with me, "the powerhouse of the cell") where they are converted into cellular fuel.
In skincare, this process helps regulate sebum production. One study found topical L-carnitine can help reduce excess oil and improve skin oil balance. This makes it a great addition for oily or acne-prone skin.
Besides oil control, carnitine supports healthy skin metabolism by boosting lipid breakdown. Research has shown it can improve skin’s resilience against aging and external stressors like UV exposure.
There are no downsides to using this ingredient and it is a great multifunctional ingredient for both sebum regulation and anti-aging care.
Learn more about CarnitineCitric 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 AcidWe don't have a description for Cocamide Mea yet.
Lauric Acid is a fatty acid or lipid. About half of fatty acids in coconut oil is lauric acid.
This ingredient helps hydrate and sooth skin. As a humectant, it helps trap moisture. It also aids in cleaning and enhancing the texture of products.
Lauric acid may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne, safe.
Learn more about Lauric AcidWe don't have a description for Lauryl Hydroxysultaine yet.
Myristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidParfum 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 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 hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.
This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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 SulfateWe don't have a description for Trisodium EDTA yet.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
