What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Acrylates Crosspolymer-4
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Heptyl Glucoside
SurfactantPropanediol
Solvent
Polyester-37
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Quaternium-95
UV AbsorberSodium Benzoate
Masking
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isomalt
HumectantPolyquaternium-113
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Glycine
Buffering
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantPisum Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Dextran
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbeth-230 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamide Mipa, Acrylates Crosspolymer-4, Glycerin, Heptyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Polyester-37, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Quaternium-95, Sodium Benzoate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Butylene Glycol, Isomalt, Polyquaternium-113, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Glycine, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Pisum Sativum Sprout Extract, Citric Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Dextran, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zinc Chloride, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate, Sorbitan Laurate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Amodimethicone
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-10
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLimonene
Perfuming
PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Surfactant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Polysorbate 21
Emulsifying
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingLinalool
Perfuming
C12-13 Alketh-23
CleansingC12-13 Alketh-3
EmulsifyingCitral
Perfuming
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Parfum, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Betaine, Citric Acid, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Amodimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, Carbomer, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Limonene, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Glycine, Polysorbate 21, Trideceth-6, Linalool, C12-13 Alketh-23, C12-13 Alketh-3, Citral, Cetrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
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 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 GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine is the smallest amino acid and a key building block of collagen. It's part if your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
A study from 2022 found that an amino acid complex featuring taurine, arginine, and glycine significantly reduced skin irritation, improved redness, and accelerated the skin repair process.
Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
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 LimoneneParfum 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.
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 BenzoateSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
