What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Rhus Semialata Gall Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Butylene Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Lauramide DEA
SurfactantDiglycerin
Humectant
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Thymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Mentha Piperita Extract
CleansingJasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauramide DEA, Diglycerin, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Gluconolactone, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Panthenol, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Beta-Glucan, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Mentha Piperita Extract, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, 1,2-Hexanediol
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
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 GlycolCocamidopropyl 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 BetainePeg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate is used to improve texture and stability of a product. It is sugar based and helps thicken a product.
Once applied, it also creates a thin film to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
This ingredient is the polyethylene glycol ether of the diester of oleic acid and methylglucose. The 120 represents an average of 120 moles of ethylene oxide.
There is limited research on this ingredient, although it is considered safe to use in skincare products.
Learn more about PEG-120 Methyl Glucose DioleateSalix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark ExtractSodium 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 BenzoateChances 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
