What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamide DEA
EmulsifyingLauramide DEA
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantSapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Carbonate
BufferingChamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract
MaskingMagnesium Nitrate
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMagnesium Chloride
Methylisothiazolinone
PreservativeTropolone
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Water, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide DEA, Lauramide DEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Sodium Carbonate, Chamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract, Magnesium Nitrate, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Tropolone
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamide DEA
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingSodium Carbonate
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingGlycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientWater, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide DEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Sodium Carbonate, Disodium Phosphate, Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Propolis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 AcidCocamide DEA is a coconut-derived cleansing agent that creates rich foam and helps to thicken the consistency of cleansing products.
This ingredient effectively removes dirt and oil while helping to stabilize formulations, making it a common addition to shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers.
It has become less popular in recent formulations due to potential irritation in sensitive skin types and concerns about trace amounts of diethanolamine (DEA), which can potentially form nitrosamines.
While still considered safe at regulated concentrations, many manufacturers now opt for gentler alternatives like cocamidopropyl betaine or other surfactants that offer similar benefits with fewer potential drawbacks.
Learn more about Cocamide DEACocamidopropyl 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 EDTAWe don't have a description for Sodium Carbonate yet.
Chances 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 ChlorideSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateSodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant, cleansing agent, and foaming agent. You'll find it in a wide range of products from shampoos to face cleansers.
It:
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has assessed it in 1983, 2002, and 2005 and found it to be safe in formulations at low concentrations.
SLS is a well-documented skin irritant at higher concentrations or with prolonged exposure. It's actually the gold standard positive control used in dermatological patch testing, meaning doctors use it because they know it will cause a reaction in people.
In one large study of 43,000 patiences tested with 0.25% SLS, about 22% showed some level of reactivity. It increases transepidermal water loss that disrupts your outermost layer of skin.
Face cleansers often pair this ingredient with mild co-surfactants like Cocamidopropyl Betaine to buffer its harshness.
Just so you know, SLS does not trigger true allergic contact dermatitis. This just means it can irritate your skin but doesn't cause your immune system to develop a lasting allergy to it.
Despite internet rumors, SLS is not considered a carcinogen by any major regulatory body.
Learn more about Sodium Lauryl SulfateWater. 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