What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Sorbitol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Isoamyl Laurate, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Chloride, Phytosterols, Phospholipids, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium PCA, Arginine, Glutamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Linoleic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid
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
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 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 AcidCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.
It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.
Hydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenoneChances 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 ChlorideWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
