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 ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Cleansing
Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Silicone Quaternium-22
Polyquaternium-10
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Caprate
EmulsifyingPalmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex
Antioxidant
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPentasodium Pentetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Silk, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Inulin, Ascorbic Acid, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Silicone Quaternium-22, Polyquaternium-10, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Palmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Isostearic Acid, Isopentyldiol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Pentasodium Pentetate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesnât replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin wonât keep absorbing more once itâs full of vitamin C. This is why more isnât always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations donât necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 AcidWe don't have a description for Cocamide Methyl Mea yet.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideParfum 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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.
This 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
