What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Amodimethicone
Menthol
Masking
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentLinalool
Perfuming
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingMannitol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Polyquaternium-11
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
C12-15 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Steartrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantCodonopsis Tangshen Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenophora Stricta Root Extract
HumectantScrophularia Nodosa Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Dimethicone, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Lauric Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocamide Mea, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Chloride, Trihydroxystearin, Amodimethicone, Menthol, Malt Extract, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Zea Mays Starch, Linalool, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Sodium Citrate, Mannitol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Eugenol, Polyquaternium-11, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, C12-15 Pareth-3, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Steartrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Cyclodextrin, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Aspergillus Ferment, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Codonopsis Tangshen Root Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Adenophora Stricta Root Extract, Scrophularia Nodosa Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric 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 plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalParfum 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 BenzoateWater. 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
