What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-10
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPiroctone Olamine
Preservative
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Polyquaternium-7
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetate
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Polyquaternium-10, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Sodium Chloride, Piroctone Olamine, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polyquaternium-7, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Benzoic Acid, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Mentha Piperita Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLauric Acid
Cleansing
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyquaternium-2
Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Laurate
CleansingAmodimethicone
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningC11-15 Pareth-15
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Laureth-9
EmulsifyingCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingBixa Orellana Seed Extract
MaskingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Panthenol, Parfum, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Lauric Acid, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Coco-Glucoside, Phenethyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Oleate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Glycol Distearate, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyquaternium-2, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Laurate, Amodimethicone, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, C11-15 Pareth-15, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Laureth-9, Citronellol, Geraniol, Trideceth-12, Bixa Orellana Seed 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.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineThis ingredient is a cleansing agent, surfactant, and foam booster. It considered an alternative to traditional sulfates (Sulfosuccinate) and is allowed in "sulfate-free" products.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is mild and can be used in baby and bath options.
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 BenzoateSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier. It is a surfactant derived from sarcosine, and a common source is coconut oil.
As a surfactant, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate helps lift dirts, oil, and other molecules to be washed away. In leave-on products, this ingredient is used as an emulsifier. Emulsifier help prevent ingredients such as oils and waters from separating.
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is also commonly found as a foaming agent in shampoo, toothpaste, and shaving foam. It is amphiphilic, meaning it loves both water and fats.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl SarcosinateSodium 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 SulfoacetateWater. 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
