What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingHydrolyzed Sweet Almond Seedcake
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCoconut Acid
CleansingSodium Isethionate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingPolygonum Fagopyrum Flour
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-67
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingBakuchiol
AntimicrobialAsparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentHyssopus Officinalis Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Seedcake, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coconut Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Polygonum Fagopyrum Flour, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-67, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Bakuchiol, Asparagus Officinalis Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingSilica
AbrasiveSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf/Stem Powder
Illite
AbrasiveEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingMontmorillonite
AbsorbentSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventAlcohol
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Bran
AbrasiveSprout Extract
AntioxidantGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientPEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeteth-3
EmulsifyingCeteth-5
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCholesterol
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Silica, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dipropylene Glycol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf/Stem Powder, Illite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Kaolin, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Montmorillonite, Soluble Proteoglycan, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Propanediol, Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Avena Sativa Bran, Sprout Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Brassica Campestris Sterols, PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceteth-3, Ceteth-5, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cholesterol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Mentha Viridis Extract, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateWater. 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