What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPolyacrylate-33
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberParfum
MaskingCI 18820
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16185
Cosmetic ColorantMenthol
MaskingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Polyacrylate-33, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hyaluronic Acid, Benzophenone-4, Parfum, CI 18820, CI 16185, Menthol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPropanediol
SolventGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingThioctic Acid
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Lactic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propanediol, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Thioctic Acid, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Sodium PCA, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.
This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.
Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.
Another name for betaine is trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCocamidopropyl 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 (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 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 HydroxideSodium 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water