What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPolyacrylate-33
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Polyacrylate-33, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, CI 15985, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Triethanolamine
BufferingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Menthol
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
CI 16185
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citric Acid, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Menthol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, CI 16185
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 BetaineEthylhexylglycerin 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 PanthenolSodium 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 PhosphateWater. 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
