What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methylalanine
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Laureth-11 Carboxylic Acid
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningLanolin Acid
Cleansing
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Bis-Methoxypropylamido Isodocosane
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Gamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingLauroyl Sarcosine
CleansingArginine
Masking
Asparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
PPG-2 Cocamide
PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventPolyquaternium-52
Polyquaternium-67
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningStearoxypropyl Dimethylamine
Laureth-16
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDiethyl Sebacate
EmollientIsodecyl Glyceryl Ether
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl Methylalanine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Myristyl Alcohol, Laureth-11 Carboxylic Acid, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk, Lanolin Acid, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Bis-Methoxypropylamido Isodocosane, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Malic Acid, Gamma-Docosalactone, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Ng, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethanolamine, Lauroyl Sarcosine, Arginine, Asparagus Officinalis Extract, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Cocamide Mea, PPG-2 Cocamide, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Polyquaternium-52, Polyquaternium-67, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Stearoxypropyl Dimethylamine, Laureth-16, Sodium Hydroxide, Diethyl Sebacate, Isodecyl Glyceryl Ether, Sodium Benzoate, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Paraffin
Perfuming
PPG-1/PEG-1 Stearamine
AntimicrobialPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Amodimethicone
Behenyl Pg-Trimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Steartrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Oryza Sativa Germ Oil
Emollient
Bis-Isobutyl PEG-14/Amodimethicone Copolymer
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Laureth-23
Cleansing
PEG-55 Stearate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Camellia Japonica Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBelamcanda Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Flower Extract
Perfuming
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Parfum, Lactic Acid, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Paraffin, PPG-1/PEG-1 Stearamine, Phenyl Trimethicone, Amodimethicone, Behenyl Pg-Trimonium Chloride, Methylparaben, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Behenyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Steartrimonium Chloride, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Bis-Isobutyl PEG-14/Amodimethicone Copolymer, Caramel, Butylene Glycol, Laureth-4, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Laureth-23, PEG-55 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Camellia Japonica Seed Extract, Belamcanda Chinensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
