What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methylalanine
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientLaureth-11 Carboxylic Acid
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
SurfactantGlycerin
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningLanolin Acid
CleansingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingBis-Methoxypropylamido Isodocosane
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantMalic Acid
BufferingGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingLauroyl Sarcosine
CleansingArginine
MaskingAsparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Histidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingPCA
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingPPG-2 Cocamide
SurfactantPPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventPolyquaternium-52
Polyquaternium-67
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningStearoxypropyl Dimethylamine
Laureth-16
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDiethyl Sebacate
EmollientIsodecyl Glyceryl Ether
SurfactantSodium Benzoate
MaskingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, 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 ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingParfum
MaskingLactamide Mea
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingLauric Acid
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Propylene Glycol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantSodium Sarcosinate
Tetrasodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Glyceryl Laurate
EmulsifyingGlucose
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantLinoleic Acid
CleansingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, Lactamide Mea, Glycerin, Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Xylitylglucoside, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium PCA, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Citric Acid, Lauric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Propylene Glycol, Xylitol, Sodium Sarcosinate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-20 Glyceryl Laurate, Glucose, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal
Reviews
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 AcidParfum 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 BenzoateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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