What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingParfum
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyquaternium-22
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Dehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantPotassium Benzoate
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBHA
AntioxidantCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingWater, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium PCA, PEG-150 Distearate, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-22, Chlorphenesin, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Benzoic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Potassium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, BHA, Citronellol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium PCA
HumectantPolyquaternium-22
PEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantParfum
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientPolyquaternium-55
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingQuaternium-95
UV AbsorberPropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantLinoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate Dimethicone
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
HumectantDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingPPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
EmulsifyingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium PCA, Polyquaternium-22, PEG-150 Distearate, Glycerin, Parfum, Glycol Distearate, Polyquaternium-55, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Quaternium-95, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Butylene Glycol, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Citric Acid, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Amyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalHydrolyzed Keratin is derived from keratin. Keratin is a large protein that is naturally found in our hair and skin.
Studies show keratin is able to seal broken hair cuticles, helping to prevent split ends and breakage.
As a humectant, hydrolyzed keratin helps draw moisture from the air to your hair and skin. This helps keep your skin and hair hydrated.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed KeratinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPEG-150 Distearate is a hardworking ingredient that is usually found at the end of a lot of cleansers whose main job is to act as a micellar thickening agent for surfactant-based cleansers.
It works by physically linking up surfactant micelles already in a formula to bump up viscosity and gives products a pourable-but-not-runny body.
Safety-wise, it's been found safe in cosmetics with minimal skin irritation and no evidence of toxicity.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe; it's a diester of stearic acid (C18) that falls into the C11-24 range that the Malassezia yeast feeds on. In vitro studies have also shown the Malassezia can metabolize PEG stearates by cleaving the ester bond to release the fatty acid.
Learn more about PEG-150 DistearateWe don't have a description for Polyquaternium-22 yet.
We don't have a description for PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide yet.
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate is a cleansing agent. It can be naturally derived or synthetically-created.
As a surfactant, it helps clean your skin by gathering dirt, oil, and other pollutants to be rinsed away more easily.
Sodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasnāt been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateWe don't have a description for Sodium Lauroamphoacetate yet.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate is an organic salt with a naturally sweet odor. It is an alternative to traditional sulfates and is commonly found in "sulfate-free" products.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is used to increase the volume of foam, emulsify ingredients, and as a cleansing agent.
As a cleansing agent, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate helps reduce the surface tension of dirt, oil, and other pollutants so they can be rinsed away easily.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review found this ingredient to irritate the eyes and skin in concentrations of 0.18% and 0.7%.
Learn more about Sodium Lauryl SulfoacetateSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is a gentle, coconut-derived cleansing surfactant. It's most commonly found in "sulfate-free" cleansers.
As a taurate, it belongs to a class of anionic surfactants prized for being efficient at cleansing without harshness, good performance in hard water, stability across a wide pH range, and easily biodegradable.
It is able to lift away oil and grime and make a nice lather without stripping your skin, so it's a good pick for sensitive skin.
Safety-wise, it has a good record. The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and concentrations go up to 11% in leave-on products or 13% in rinse-off products.
Despite being derived from coconut oil, this ingredient is fungal acne safe. It's a water-soluble surfactant with no fatty oils or esters left intact on skin for the Malassezia yeast to feed.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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