What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPEG-8
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-8, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Benzophenone-4, Salicylic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ceramide NP, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Metabisulfite
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Iron Oxides
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
PEG-45m
HumectantGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningEmblica Officinalis Fruit Juice Powder
AstringentCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sorbitol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citric Acid, Iron Oxides, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Benzophenone-4, PEG-45m, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Juice Powder, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, and worsen rosacea.
Benzophenone-4 is a water-soluble chemical sunscreen.
It protects in the UV-B range, but is considered a secondary UV absorber. This means that it needs to be paired with other sunscreen ingredients to provide effective protection.
Typically, it's used in cosmetic products to protect them from deterioration caused by UV rays. This is why you'll find it in a lot of products that aren't sunscreens.
Learn more about Benzophenone-4Cocamidopropyl 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 BetaineDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPeg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate is created from polyethylene glycol and fatty acids from coconut oil.
It is a synthetic polymer with emulsifying and cleansing properties.
As an emulsifier, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate prevents ingredients such as oils and water from separating. It also helps rinse away oils, dirt, and pollutants from skin.
Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate may not be fungal acne safe. It can also dry out skin.
Learn more about PEG-7 Glyceryl CocoatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, itβs still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSodium metabisulfite is also known as Sodium Pyrosulfite. It is a preservative, antioxidant, and disinfectant.
As a preservative, it helps stabilize cosmetic formulas without affecting their color or scent.
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
