What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Betaine, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Gluconolactone, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Lactic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
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. Itβs 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 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 GlycerinWater. 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
