What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHexadimethrine Chloride
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Amodimethicone
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
Masking
Laureth-9
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingLinalool
Perfuming
Fumaric Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Disodium EDTA, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glutamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sclerotium Gum, Hexadimethrine Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Parfum, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Amodimethicone, C11-15 Pareth-7, Sodium Chloride, Laureth-9, Glycerin, Trideceth-12, Linalool, Fumaric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningLaureth-5 Carboxylic Acid
CleansingAminopropyl Triethoxysilane
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-67
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Laureth-5 Carboxylic Acid, Aminopropyl Triethoxysilane, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, PEG-150 Distearate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-67, Lactic Acid, Laureth-4, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citral, Geraniol, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl 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 BetaineLinalool 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 LinaloolParfum 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.
Sodium 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 BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.
This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
