What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein
Skin ConditioningSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Tetrasodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-10
Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-7
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingMagnesium Nitrate
C12-16 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingGlyoxal
Antimicrobial
Magnesium Chloride
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Cocamide Mipa, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-10, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, C11-15 Pareth-7, Magnesium Nitrate, C12-16 Pareth-9, Trideceth-12, Glyoxal, Magnesium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Montan Cera
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Polyquaternium-7
Ceteareth-7
EmulsifyingMdm Hydantoin
Antimicrobial
Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Cobalt Titanium Oxide
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialPotassium Hydroxycitrate
Skin ConditioningPg-Amodimethicone
Etidronic Acid
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium Nitrate
Hexamidine Diisethionate
Emollient
Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Rugosa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Andongensis Leaf Extract
HumectantParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Montan Cera, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polyquaternium-7, Ceteareth-7, Mdm Hydantoin, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Cobalt Titanium Oxide, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Zinc Chloride, Potassium Hydroxycitrate, Pg-Amodimethicone, Etidronic Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Hexamidine Diisethionate, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Rosa Rugosa Flower Extract, Sophora Flavescens Extract, Aloe Andongensis Leaf Extract, 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 GlycerinMagnesium chloride is a mineral salt made from magnesium and chloride. It is mainly used to control product stability and texture in cosmetics.
This ingredient can also play a role in soothing the skin and supporting normal skin function.
Magnesium chloride is water-soluble, generally well tolerated, and does not act as a strong “active” ingredient on its own.
Learn more about Magnesium ChlorideWe don't have a description for Magnesium Nitrate yet.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone, or MCI, is a synthetic preservative used to protect against the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi in water-based products.
MCI is commonly combined with methylisothiazolinone (MI) in a 3:1 ratio.
This ingredient is safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-sensitizing and concentrations must not exceed 7.5 ppm in leave-on products / 15 ppm in rinse-off products.
Unfortunately, this ingredient has a well-documented sensitization story. Studies spanning several decades have shown this ingredient + MI to cause skin irritation and allergies.
The use of this ingredient varies around the world:
This just means this ingredient is most likely non-sensitizing in rinse-off products unless you've been diagnosed with a contact allergy to isothiazolinones.
Learn more about MethylchloroisothiazolinoneParfum 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 ParfumPolyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Water. 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
