What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Cottonseed Protein
Skin ConditioningCitrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPlantago Major Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningKrameria Triandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Cottonseed Protein, Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract, Plantago Major Leaf Extract, Krameria Triandra Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Citral, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Lactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Porphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Cuminum Cyminum Seed Oil
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, C12-16 Alcohols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Papain, Chlorphenesin, Lactis Proteinum, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium EDTA, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Citral, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Cuminum Cyminum Seed Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term '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.
Learn more about CitralDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimonenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
