What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingCoconut Acid
CleansingSodium Isethionate
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Ceramide Ng
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glycerin, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Coconut Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Citric Acid, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Ceramide Ng, Glyceryl Oleate, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPalmitic Acid
EmollientLauric Acid
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Capric Acid
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningLilium Tigrinum Root Extract
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Niacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantLinoleic Acid
CleansingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax, Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Capric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Lilium Tigrinum Root Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Biotin, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Cyanocobalamin, Potassium Hyaluronate, Thiamine Hcl, Beta-Carotene, Riboflavin, Linoleic Acid, Parfum
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 GlycerinPolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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