What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingLaureth-7 Citrate
CleansingLaureth-4
Emulsifying
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-10
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningFormic Acid
Preservative
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Parfum, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Laureth-7 Citrate, Laureth-4, Piroctone Olamine, Panthenol, Polyquaternium-10, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Maris Sal, Formic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Biotin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
PEG-45m
HumectantPPG-7
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Dimethiconol, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-45m, PPG-7, Lactic Acid, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Mica, CI 77891
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 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 GlycerinGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalLimonene 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 LinaloolParfum 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 ParfumSodium 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
