What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Surfactant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-10
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Glycine
Buffering
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Linalool
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sorbitol, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-150 Distearate, Polyquaternium-10, Potassium Cocoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Salicylic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Limonene, Glycine, Coco-Betaine, Linalool, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Amodimethicone
Quaternium-80
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Methylparaben
Preservative
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Quaternium-80, Cetrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Pvp, Parfum, Methylparaben, Trideceth-12, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Amyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, BHT
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 LinaloolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
