What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Surfactant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Potassium Laureth-4 Carboxylate
SurfactantCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingZinc PCA
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate
Cleansing
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Chloride, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamide Mipa, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Laureth-4 Carboxylate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Zinc PCA, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate, T-Butyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamide DEA
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamide DEA, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Propanediol, Glycolic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Panthenol, CI 42090, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, CI 19140, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
