What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPolyacrylate-33
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Menthol
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Stomach Extract
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 14720
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Polyacrylate-33, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzophenone-4, Xylitol, Glucose, Sodium Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Niacinamide, Anhydroxylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Menthol, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stomach Extract, Propylene Glycol, CI 14720, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctenidine Hcl
AntimicrobialPropanediol
Solvent
Triethanolamine
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Water, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Coco-Glucoside, Glycol Distearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Oleate, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octenidine Hcl, Propanediol, Triethanolamine, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Proline, Hydroxyproline, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Sodium Phytate
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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
