What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingDisodium Cocoamphodipropionate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningJasminum Grandiflorum Flower Cera
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingOpuntia Tuna Flower/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentPolyquaternium-7
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-2 Cocoate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Mipa, Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate, Glycol Distearate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, PEG-150 Distearate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Polysorbate 20, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Cera, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Opuntia Tuna Flower/Stem Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Polyquaternium-7, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Sodium Chloride, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingKeratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPisum Sativum Peptide
Skin ConditioningCetyl Triethylmonium Dimethicone PEG-8 Succinate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Keratin Amino Acids, Citric Acid, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Cetyl Triethylmonium Dimethicone PEG-8 Succinate, Panthenol, PEG-150 Distearate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Chloride, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
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 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 BetaineEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycol Distearate serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.
It's often included in cleansers and haircare products to give them a lustrous or shimmering appearance.
It is derived from stearic acid, a natural fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats.
Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumPeg-150 Distearate is an emulsifier and thickening agent. It is created from stearic acid.
As an emulsifier, peg-150 distearate helps other ingredients dissolve. This helps prevent ingredient separation.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-150 DistearateSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a cleansing agent made from a mixture of long chain sulfonate salts. It can also help produce foam.
This ingredient may be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Chances 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.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water