What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Laureth-8 Sulfate
Cleansing
Magnesium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Magnesium Laureth-8 Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Oleth Sulfate
Cleansing
Magnesium Oleth Sulfate
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Laureth-8 Sulfate, Magnesium Laureth Sulfate, Magnesium Laureth-8 Sulfate, Sodium Oleth Sulfate, Magnesium Oleth Sulfate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Oleate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Laureth-8 Sulfate
Cleansing
Magnesium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Magnesium Laureth-8 Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Oleth Sulfate
Cleansing
Magnesium Oleth Sulfate
Cleansing
Galactaric Acid
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Laureth-8 Sulfate, Magnesium Laureth Sulfate, Magnesium Laureth-8 Sulfate, Sodium Oleth Sulfate, Magnesium Oleth Sulfate, Galactaric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinMagnesium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate.
Magnesium Laureth-8 Sulfate is a type of sulfate.
Magnesium Oleth Sulfate is a type of sulfate.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateSodium Laureth-8 Sulfate is a type of sulfate.
Sodium Oleth Sulfate is a type of sulfate.
Water. 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
