What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingMonosodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Caffeine, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Monosodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Charcoal Powder, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentGaultheria Procumbens Leaf Oil
MaskingEugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingEugenol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveSodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingMonosodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caffeine, Salicylic Acid, Charcoal Powder, Sodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Monosodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, 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.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineCharcoal powder comes from grounded charcoal. Charcoal can originate from peat, bamboo, coal, wood, coconut shell, or petroleum.
This ingredient has absorbent properties, making it great at absorbing oil.
Citric 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 AcidCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.
It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.
Coco-Betaine is the natural version of Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is often derived from coconuts.
Coco-Betaine is a surfactant, meaning it helps remove dirt and oil from the skin.
We don't have a description for Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate yet.
Disodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Monosodium Citrate yet.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
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 Cocoyl Glutamate is a gentle cleanser and surfactant. It is the sodium salt of the Cocoyl Glutamic Acid and comes from coconut oil. As a surfactant, it helps lift dirt and oil to be washed away.
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate also has an emolliating effect and can help leave the skin feeling soft.
Sodium 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 HydroxideWe don't have a description for Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids yet.
Water. 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