What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingPEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
CleansingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingSuccinic Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
HumectantPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Pantolactone
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Succinic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Zinc PCA, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Pantolactone, Polysorbate 20, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Betaine
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin ConditioningDextran
Citric Acid
BufferingIsopentyldiol
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Surfactin
CleansingLinalool
PerfumingSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Dextran, Citric Acid, Isopentyldiol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Surfactin, Linalool, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol
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
Caprylyl 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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