What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate
CleansingTrideceth-7 Carboxylic Acid
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Punica Granatum Fruit Juice
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Passiflora Edulis Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Betaine
Humectant
Royal Jelly
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentEquisetum Hyemale Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentCola Acuminata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPiroctone Olamine
Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Polyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-10
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Beta Vulgaris Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate, Trideceth-7 Carboxylic Acid, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamide Mipa, Polysorbate 20, Punica Granatum Fruit Juice, Glycerin, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Juice, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Betaine, Royal Jelly, Niacinamide, Phytosterols, Caffeine, Biotin, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Equisetum Hyemale Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Piroctone Olamine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Maltodextrin, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Parfum, Beta Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningLauramidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPiroctone Olamine
Preservative
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea
EmollientHydroxypropyl Bisstearamide Mea
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Menthol
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Trisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Lauramidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamide Mipa, Betaine, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Isethionate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Piroctone Olamine, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Pericarp Extract, Phytosterols, Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea, Hydroxypropyl Bisstearamide Mea, Mentha Piperita Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Menthol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glycol Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Coconut Acid, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Stearic Acid, Trisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Limonene
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 humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidWe don't have a description for Cocamide Mipa yet.
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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimonenePhytosterols are plant-derived sterols (you can think of them as the plant world's version of cholesterol). In cosmetics, this ingredient is usually sourced from soybean, rice bran, shea, sunflower, and other seed oils.
The main actors in this group are β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol (the CIR covers 27 phytosterols).
They work by fitting perfectly into your stratum corneum's lipid matrix since they're structurally similar to cholesterol. Here, they reinforce your skin's barrier.
One small in vivo human study showed topical soybean phytosterols sped up barrier recovery within three days on tape-stripped skin.
Broader research credits them with:
Formulation use typically sit under 5%.
Testing in soy-allergic subjects found no sensitization signals, but be sure to patch test if you are unsure or have existing allergies.
Learn more about PhytosterolsPiroctone Olamine targets Malassezia, the fungus responsible for dandruff, which is why you'll find it in many anti-dandruff shampoos.
It's also water-soluble, so it blends easily into these formulas.
Polyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
