What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingDimethicone
Emollient
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingParfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Maltitol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Salicylate
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Polyquaternium-7
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Climbazole
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Laureth-3
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentArginine
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Punica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Dimethicone, Lauryl Glucoside, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sorbitol, Caffeine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trihydroxystearin, Maltitol, Sodium Benzoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyquaternium-7, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Climbazole, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Laureth-23, Laureth-3, Glyceryl Stearate, Citronellol, Limonene, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Dextrin, Arginine, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Propanediol, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Oleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Cholesterol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Xylitol
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingGlycol Stearate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Stearamide Amp
Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Water, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Glycol Stearate, Parfum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk, Citric Acid, Stearamide Amp, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Benzoic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideParfum 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 ParfumSodium 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 BenzoateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skinās lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
