What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Olivoyl PCA
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentRosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Lauryl Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Gluconolactone, Parfum, Potassium Olivoyl PCA, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingSodium Coco-Glucoside Tartrate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLactic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Honey
Humectant
Honey Extract
Humectant
Zymomonas Ferment Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Citrus Sinensis Peel Extract
Perfuming
Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLawsonia Inermis Extract
Antimicrobial
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Coco-Glucoside Tartrate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Gluconolactone, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Honey, Honey Extract, Zymomonas Ferment Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Bisabolol, Citrus Sinensis Peel Extract, Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Lawsonia Inermis Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol, Citric Acid, Caramel, Potassium Sorbate, Mica
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholCitric 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 Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.
It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.
Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinLauryl 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 GlucosidePotassium 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 Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is a gentle, coconut-derived cleansing surfactant. It's most commonly found in "sulfate-free" cleansers.
As a taurate, it belongs to a class of anionic surfactants prized for being efficient at cleansing without harshness, good performance in hard water, stability across a wide pH range, and easily biodegradable.
It is able to lift away oil and grime and make a nice lather without stripping your skin, so it's a good pick for sensitive skin.
Safety-wise, it has a good record. The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and concentrations go up to 11% in leave-on products or 13% in rinse-off products.
Despite being derived from coconut oil, this ingredient is fungal acne safe. It's a water-soluble surfactant with no fatty oils or esters left intact on skin for the Malassezia yeast to feed.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateWater. 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
