What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAvena Strigosa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingN-Vinyl Pyrrolidone
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Avena Strigosa Seed Extract, Lecithin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, N-Vinyl Pyrrolidone, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPolyacrylate-33
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantCocos Nucifera Water
MaskingHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingBetaine
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Cyanate
Glyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Polyacrylate-33, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Cocos Nucifera Water, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Betaine, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Cyanate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Panthenol, CI 42090
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 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.
Sodium 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