What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyquaternium-67
Citric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantDaucus Carota Sativa Root Water
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyquaternium-67, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
SurfactantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPropanediol
SolventDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
EmollientOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingFoeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract
EmollientSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentViola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
PerfumingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantSalicylic Acid
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantLysozyme
Skin ConditioningProtease
ExfoliatingButylene Glycol
HumectantMannitol
HumectantBromelain
Skin ConditioningTropolone
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Coco-Glucoside, Propanediol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coco-Betaine, Potassium Cocoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Althaea Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Salicylic Acid, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lysozyme, Protease, Butylene Glycol, Mannitol, Bromelain, Tropolone, Papain, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate is a modified starch used to help thicken a product.
It is also used in foods.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is an amino acid-based surfactant and cleaning agent. This ingredient can be derived from animals or plants. It may also be synthetically created from fatty acids of the coconut and glycine.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is a gentle surfactant. Surfactants help gather the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away. It is a mild cleanser and naturally produces foam.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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