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
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningSteartrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningVinegar
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Artemisia Annua Extract
MaskingAzadirachta Indica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Water
Masking
Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentArginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-Crosspolymer
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Polylysine
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentButylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Myristyl Alcohol, Water, Steartrimonium Chloride, Alcohol, Parfum, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Yeast Extract, Beta-Glucan, Inulin, Maltodextrin, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Vinegar, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Caffeine, Biotin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract, PEG-Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Polylysine, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Biotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinCitric 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 ParfumPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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
