What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-32
HumectantPEG-6
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLauric Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Tetrasodium EDTA
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-39
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, PEG-32, PEG-6, Dipropylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Parfum, Squalane, Tetrasodium EDTA, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Polyquaternium-39, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Surfactin, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Sodium Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Illicium Verum Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Medica Peel Oil
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract
MaskingLinalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Anogeissus Leiocarpus Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Flower Wax
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingPEG-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phytantriol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Behenic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Illicium Verum Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Medica Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene, Anogeissus Leiocarpus Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Wax, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, PEG-3 Distearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytantriol, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidLimonene 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 LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateThis gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
According to the manufacturer, it is soluble in water and has resistance to hard water, acid, and alkali.
Due to its coconut base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateWater. 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
