What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Water
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Caprylic Acid
CleansingXylitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Chloride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Water, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Polyglutamic Acid, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer, Parfum, Sodium Levulinate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Pvp, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylic Acid, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Amyl Cinnamal, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Potassium Sorbate, Lecithin, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Phenyl Trimethicone, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateThis ingredient comes from chia seeds (the same ones you put in your smoothie!). It has emollient and skin conditioning properties due to its rich concentration of linoleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
One small clinical study of 10 people found that a 4% chia seed oil formulation significantly improved skin hydration and soothed itchiness in 8 weeks. Another study showed using a chia seed extract enriched with vitamin F told skin cells to produce more of their own hydration factors.
There's also some lab evidence that chia seed extract, when paired with pomegranate extract, may help reduce excess pigment production.
Learn more about Salvia Hispanica Seed ExtractSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
