What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Xylenesulfonate
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Beta-Glucan, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Wheat Amino Acids, Panthenol, Allantoin, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Hydroxyproline, Lactic Acid, Laureth-4, Lauryl Glucoside, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Polyacrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Sodium Xylenesulfonate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamide Dipa
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacin
SmoothingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantThiamine Hcl
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-39
Polyester-37
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Cocamide Dipa, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin, Cyanocobalamin, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine Hcl, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-150 Distearate, Polyquaternium-39, Polyester-37, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Benzyl Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearatePanthenol 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 PanthenolSodium 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 BenzoateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
