What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Water, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Isopropyl Myristate, Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingAcrylates Crosspolymer-4
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Erythritol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCellulose
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Acrylates Crosspolymer-4, Salicylic Acid, Erythritol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cellulose, Parfum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate
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 BetaineDisodium 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 EDTAPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
