What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Coco-Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingLevulinic Acid
PerfumingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingBoswellia Serrata Oil
MaskingCommiphora Myrrha Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantAmyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Staigeriana Branch/Leaf Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialWater, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Levulinic Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Levulinate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Boswellia Serrata Oil, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Eucalyptus Staigeriana Branch/Leaf Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingCarthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingJasminum Sambac Flower Extract
MaskingGardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingJasminum Officinale Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant2,3-Butanediol
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Astrocaryum Murumuruate
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPropanediol
SolventCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
CleansingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lauryl Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Gluconate, Glyceryl Oleate, Pentylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, 2,3-Butanediol, Maltodextrin, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Astrocaryum Murumuruate, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Propanediol, Cellulose Gum, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool
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 AcidCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideDecyl Glucoside is a glucose-based surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Surfactants help clean the skin by trapping oil, sebum, and dirt to be washed away. As an emulsion stabilizer, it stabilizes the ingredients in a product by preventing them from separating.
This ingredient is biodegradable and non-toxic. This ingredient is commonly found in baby shampoos.
Decyl Glucoside is sometimes used to stabilize the UV filter Tinosorb.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Oleate is the ester of glycerin and oleic acid. This ingredient is mainly an emollient and emulsifier.
Emollients soften and hydrate the skin by creating a thin film on top to trap in moisture. As an emulsifier, glyceryl oleate helps stabilize formulations by preventing ingredients such as oil and water from separating. According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps helps thicken water-in-oil formulations, shower gels, and hair shampoos.
In some products, this ingredient may be used as a fragrance / perfuming ingredient. The scent of this ingredient is described to be "waxy".
Glyceryl oleate is created from oils rich in oleic acid, such as peanut oil and olive oil.
This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Glyceryl OleateLauryl Glucoside sugar- and lipid-based cleansing agent. It is created from glucose and lauryl alcohol.
This ingredient is a surfactant, making it easier to rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants away.
A British study found lauryl glucoside to cause skin sensitivity for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Other names for this ingredient include "Lauryl Polyglucose", "Lauryl glycoside", and "D-Glucopyranoside".
Learn more about Lauryl GlucosideLimonene 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 LinaloolPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 BenzoateThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water