What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingUndecylenamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingBetaine
HumectantPopulus Tremuloides Bark Extract
AntiseborrhoeicGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantCistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientLaureth-2
CleansingInulin
Skin ConditioningGlycol Distearate
EmollientLaureth-4
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Undecylenamidopropyl Betaine, Betaine, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Laureth-2, Inulin, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-4, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingParfum
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBrassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyquaternium-7
Phenethyl Benzoate
EmollientSodium Laurate
CleansingPolyquaternium-10
Coconut Acid
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingGenipa Americana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCorn Starch Modified
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCoumarin
PerfumingHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Betaine, Lauric Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Benzoate, Glycol Distearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyquaternium-7, Phenethyl Benzoate, Sodium Laurate, Polyquaternium-10, Coconut Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Genipa Americana Fruit Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Corn Starch Modified, Glyceryl Stearate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Coumarin, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.
This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.
Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.
Another name for betaine is trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCitric 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 AcidCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineGlycol Distearate serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.
It's often included in cleansers and haircare products to give them a lustrous or shimmering appearance.
It is derived from stearic acid, a natural fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats.
Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateThis ingredient is derived from guar gum.
It is a conditioning ingredient, meaning it helps soften skin and hair.
Linalool 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 BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.
This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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