What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPolyquaternium-55
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientArginine
MaskingYeast Amino Acids
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingThreonine
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-55, Phenethyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Panthenol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aspergillus Ferment, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Arginine, Yeast Amino Acids, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Wheat Amino Acids, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Arginine Hcl, Serine, Threonine, Lactobacillus Ferment, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCocos Nucifera Water
MaskingFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Incarnata Seed Oil
Skin ProtectingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingPolyurethane-14
Sodium Laneth-40 Maleate/Styrene Sulfonate Copolymer
Amp-Acrylates Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialSodium Chloride
MaskingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
BufferingCaprylic Acid
CleansingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingXylitol
HumectantSorbic Acid
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitral
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Decyl Glucoside, Cocos Nucifera Water, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Panthenol, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Polyurethane-14, Sodium Laneth-40 Maleate/Styrene Sulfonate Copolymer, Amp-Acrylates Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Caprylic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Xylitol, Sorbic Acid, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateChances 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 ChlorideTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
Water. 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