What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 3%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
PEG-10 Sunflower Glycerides
EmollientSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAcacia Farnesiana Flower Extract
Perfuming
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyquaternium-67
Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid 3%, Water, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, PEG-10 Sunflower Glycerides, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Acacia Farnesiana Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyquaternium-67, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Benzophenone-4, Isopropyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol
Ketoconazole 1%
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Blue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Hydrochloric Acid
BufferingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-7
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water
Skin Conditioning
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCitric 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.
Parfum 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
