What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Mel
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Amodimethicone
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLauryl Lactyl Lactate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningCellulose
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
PEG-150 Stearate
Disodium EDTA
PEG-1m
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Acetate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propanediol, Glycol Distearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Mel, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Biotin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Glycolipids, Glycerin, Phospholipids, Amodimethicone, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lauryl Lactyl Lactate, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-150 Distearate, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Cellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, PEG-150 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-1m, Stearic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Mannan
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-100
Gel FormingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Propanediol, Stearic Acid, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Xanthan Gum, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Mannan, Steareth-2, Steareth-100, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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 AcidCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseParfum 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
