What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSqualane
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientRhamnose
HumectantGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlucuronic Acid
BufferingGlucose
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingParfum
MaskingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCoconut Acid
CleansingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Water, Glycerin, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Squalane, Sodium Chloride, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Rhamnose, Glucomannan, Propanediol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glucuronic Acid, Glucose, Sodium Benzoate, Coco-Glucoside, Parfum, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Coconut Acid, Geraniol, Limonene, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Water
TonicBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropylamine Oxide
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cyanocobalamin, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Water, Beta-Glucan, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
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
Beta-Glucan is a polysaccharide. It can be derived from the cell walls of seaweed, oats, yeast, and fungi. It hydrates the skin and helps boost your skin's natural barrier.
As an antioxidant, beta-glucan helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Studies show this ingredient may be an effective wrinkle reducer as it can deeply penetrate into skin. It has also been show to help with wound healing.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanCaprylyl 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 AcidCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateThis gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
According to the manufacturer, it is soluble in water and has resistance to hard water, acid, and alkali.
Due to its coconut base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateWater. 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