What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialSodium PCA
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Extract
Magnesium PCA
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientZinc PCA
HumectantLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantManganese PCA
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Parfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Maltodextrin, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Sodium PCA, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Extract, Magnesium PCA, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Zinc PCA, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Manganese PCA, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Parfum, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingParfum
MaskingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientLauramide Mipa
Glycol Distearate
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Lauramide Mipa, Glycol Distearate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Benzoate
Reviews
Alternatives
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 AcidCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilParfum 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 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