What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientParfum
MaskingAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantItaconic Acid
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningUlva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCoco-Glucoside
CleansingBrassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycol Distearate, Parfum, Aspergillus Ferment, Arginine, Glycerin, Itaconic Acid, Panthenol, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Polyquaternium-7, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Coco-Glucoside, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sodium Benzoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, PEG-150 Distearate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingDimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialGlycol Distearate
EmollientPolyquaternium-10
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingDisodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide, Parfum, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Polyquaternium-10, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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 AcidCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycol Distearate serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.
It's often included in cleansers and haircare products to give them a lustrous or shimmering appearance.
It is derived from stearic acid, a natural fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats.
Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateParfum 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 BenzoateSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateWater. 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