What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSambucus Nigra Seed Oil
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientPrunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Biotin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sambucus Nigra Seed Oil, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pantothenic Acid, Panthenol, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingAmmonium Chloride
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialLaureth-4
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-67
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSilicone Quaternium-16
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantUndeceth-11
EmollientCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientButyloctanol
HumectantBenzoic Acid
MaskingUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingSodium Acetate
BufferingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventLimonene
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Ammonium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Glycol Distearate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Cetrimonium Chloride, Laureth-4, Polyquaternium-67, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Silicone Quaternium-16, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Propylene Glycol, Undeceth-11, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Butyloctanol, Benzoic Acid, Undeceth-5, Sodium Acetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Isopropyl Alcohol, Limonene, Coumarin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterThis ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
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 BetaineThis ingredient is a cleansing agent, surfactant, and foam booster. It considered an alternative to traditional sulfates (Sulfosuccinate) and is allowed in "sulfate-free" products.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is mild and can be used in baby and bath options.
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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 ParfumSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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