What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Polyquaternium-10
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Polyquaternium-7
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Glycolate
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Vanillin
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide, Parfum, Levulinic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Polyquaternium-7, Laureth-4, Sodium Gluconate, Benzoic Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Coconut Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sodium Glycolate, Lactic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Vanillin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Steartrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Succinic Acid
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Poloxamer 184
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Seed Oil
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Isoamyl Laurate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Steartrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Arginine, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Succinic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Propylene Glycol, Poloxamer 184, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carica Papaya Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalyl Acetate, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
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 AcidWe don't have a description for Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride yet.
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 ParfumThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideThis ingredient is also known as ISO E Super. It is a synthetic perfuming and masking ingredient.
The manufacturer describes this scnet as amber and woody.
According to the EU, this ingredient is a known allergen and some people may develop skin sensitivity from repeated exposure.
Learn more about Tetramethyl AcetyloctahydronaphthalenesWater. 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
