What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Rhodiola Rosea Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Dextran
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
Astringent
Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRhaponticum Carthamoides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Eugenol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Rhodiola Rosea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Tocopherol, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Dextran, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Rhaponticum Carthamoides Root Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Coco-Betaine
CleansingHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-30
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Arginine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Serine
Masking
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningSafflower Glucoside
Geraniol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycol Distearate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Coco-Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Alcohol Denat., Polyquaternium-30, Salicylic Acid, Carbomer, Hexyl Cinnamal, Arginine, Glutamic Acid, Linalool, Citronellol, Serine, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Safflower Glucoside, Geraniol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate
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 AcidLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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 Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
