What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Swiftlet Nest Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract
Emollient
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Ecklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingSargassum Fulvellum Extract
Skin ConditioningAgarum Cribrosum Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingJuglans Regia Shell Powder
Abrasive
Cellulose Acetate
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Menthol
Masking
Sodium Chloride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Laureth-3
EmulsifyingAmmonium Sulfate
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzophenone-9
UV AbsorberCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantBlue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propanediol, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Agarum Cribrosum Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Cellulose Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Menthol, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Laureth-3, Ammonium Sulfate, Lauryl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Benzophenone-9, CI 15985, Blue 1 Lake, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingBenzyl Glycol
SolventCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialEthyl Hexanediol
SolventCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Lauric Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Benzyl Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Ethyl Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Asiatic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Madecassoside, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthyl Hexanediol is an aliphatic alcohol. It is a solvent.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidChances 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
