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 ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Zinc Lactate
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolydextrose
HumectantLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Amylopectin
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Zinc Lactate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Maltodextrin, Salicylic Acid, Dextrin, Polydextrose, Lactobacillus, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Amylopectin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 HydroxideWater. 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
