What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-3 Laurate
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCocoglucosides Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeRice Oil Glycereth-8 Esters
CleansingMethoxy PEG/PPG-7/3 Aminopropyl Dimethicone
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLitchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningKaempferia Galanga Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningStyrax Benzoin Resin Extract
MaskingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantQuaternium-95
UV AbsorberHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantKeratin
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSucrose Laurate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeParfum
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Cocamide Mea, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cocoglucosides Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Rice Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Methoxy PEG/PPG-7/3 Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Quaternium-95, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Keratin, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose Laurate, Propanediol, Citric Acid, PEG-150 Distearate, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycereth-26
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingHydrogenated Coconut Acid
EmollientCoco-Betaine
CleansingPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-7
Amodimethicone
Polyquaternium-10
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Propylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingArginine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLaureth-9
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingGlycerin
HumectantSerine
MaskingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingC12-13 Pareth-23
Cleansing2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycereth-26, Decyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Coconut Acid, Coco-Betaine, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Sodium Benzoate, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Amodimethicone, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Isethionate, Salicylic Acid, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, C11-15 Pareth-7, Benzoic Acid, Arginine, Glutamic Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Laureth-9, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Serine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Trideceth-12, C12-13 Pareth-23, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, C12-13 Pareth-3, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Parfum
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 AcidDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideThis ingredient is a cleansing agent, surfactant, and foam booster. It considered an alternative to traditional sulfates (Sulfosuccinate) and is allowed in "sulfate-free" products.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is mild and can be used in baby and bath options.
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 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 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 Lauroyl Sarcosinate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier. It is a surfactant derived from sarcosine, and a common source is coconut oil.
As a surfactant, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate helps lift dirts, oil, and other molecules to be washed away. In leave-on products, this ingredient is used as an emulsifier. Emulsifier help prevent ingredients such as oils and waters from separating.
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is also commonly found as a foaming agent in shampoo, toothpaste, and shaving foam. It is amphiphilic, meaning it loves both water and fats.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl SarcosinateSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate is an organic salt with a naturally sweet odor. It is an alternative to traditional sulfates and is commonly found in "sulfate-free" products.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is used to increase the volume of foam, emulsify ingredients, and as a cleansing agent.
As a cleansing agent, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate helps reduce the surface tension of dirt, oil, and other pollutants so they can be rinsed away easily.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review found this ingredient to irritate the eyes and skin in concentrations of 0.18% and 0.7%.
Learn more about Sodium Lauryl SulfoacetateWater. 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