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 ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Laureth-5 Carboxylate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMethylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
EDTA
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth-5 Carboxylate, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates Copolymer, Coco-Glucoside, Cocamide Mea, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl 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 GlycerinSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateSodium 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
