What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingGlycol Stearate
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Parfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPropanediol
SolventPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantGlycosphingolipids
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialWater, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Glycol Stearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Propanediol, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Glycosphingolipids, Oryza Sativa Extract, Tocopherol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Benzyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Tilia Cordata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningBromelain
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientMicrocitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Papain
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMica
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tin Oxide
AbrasiveIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Acrylates Copolymer, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Bromelain, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Papain, Citric Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Mica, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tin Oxide, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Parfum, Linalool, CI 77491, CI 77891
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 AcidGlycerin (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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water