What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Glycerin
Humectant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSea Silt
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Mannan
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Codium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sea Silt, Potassium Cocoate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Mannan, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Butylene Glycol, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingBenzyl Glycol
SolventCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialEthyl Hexanediol
SolventCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Lauric Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Benzyl Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Ethyl Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Asiatic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Madecassoside, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 EthylhexylglycerinThis oil is derived from the leaves of Eucalyptus Globulus, a type of Eucalyptus tree native to Australia.
Though this oil shows antibacterial and antioxidant activity, it is also a known skin-irritant due to its fragrance components.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinLauryl Hydroxysultaine is a mild surfactant or cleansing ingredient that helps lift away dirt/oil, boost foam, and thicken the formula. It plays nicely with other surfactants and stays stable across a wide pH range.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidChances 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 Water
