What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
Surfactant
Cocoyl Methyl Beta-Alanine
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantDimethyl Lauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningHoney
Humectant
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyquaternium-10
PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Larix Kaempferi Root Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCorydalis Ambigua Bark/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Cocoyl Methyl Beta-Alanine, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Dimethyl Lauroyl Lysine, Honey, Coconut Acid, Propanediol, Polyquaternium-10, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Larix Kaempferi Root Bark Extract, Corydalis Ambigua Bark/Root Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingParfum
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Disodium EDTA
Menthol
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLinalool
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Climbazole
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingGeraniol
Perfuming
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentLimonene
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingSorbitol
Humectant
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sucrose
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantDextrin
AbsorbentPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSea Salt
Abrasive
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Parfum, Caffeine, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Menthol, Sodium Chloride, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Dipropylene Glycol, Linalool, Citric Acid, Climbazole, Butylene Glycol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Geraniol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Limonene, Glycerin, Malt Extract, Sorbitol, Zea Mays Starch, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sucrose, Hydrolyzed Extensin, CI 77289, Dextrin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sea Salt, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Xylitol, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric 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 AcidDisodium 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 EDTAParfum 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.
We don't have a description for PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether yet.
Sodium 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 BenzoateChances 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.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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
