What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantPropylene Glycol
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantDehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingTin Oxide
AbrasivePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingParfum
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Glyceryl Oleate, Saccharide Isomerate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Mica, Propylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Tin Oxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Parfum, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMoringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Parfum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Decylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Allantoin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Panthenol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Coumarin, Isoeugenol, Citral, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term '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.
Learn more about CitralGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool 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 ParfumSodium 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum