What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Potassium Chloride
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantDMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
PEG-45m
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantBenzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Parfum, Carbomer, Cocamide Mea, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Mica, DMDM Hydantoin, PEG-45m, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethiconol, Ceramide Ns, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, CI 17200, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Menthol
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Phosphate
BufferingClimbazole
Antimicrobial
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium EDTA
PEG-55 Stearate
CleansingLaureth-4
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Eucalyptus Globulus Oil
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Dimethiconol, Cocamide Mea, Glycol Distearate, Parfum, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Menthol, Sodium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Phosphate, Climbazole, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, PEG-55 Stearate, Laureth-4, Sodium Benzoate, Laureth-23, Sodium Salicylate, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
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 AcidThis ingredient is made by combining the fatty acids from coconut oil with monoethanolamine. It is an emulsifier that helps boost foam, thicken texture, and help keep ingredients together in a formula.
Cocamidopropyl 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 BetaineDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Glycol 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 DistearateThis 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 “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 ParfumWater. 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
