What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingTrehalose
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingZinc PCA
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Trehalose, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Gluconolactone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Glycine, Sodium Hydroxide, Zinc PCA, Allantoin, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingAcrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Potassium Laureth Phosphate
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
CleansingSodium Chloride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolyquaternium-7
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Bisabolol
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Methyltaurate
Skin ConditioningSodium Sarcosinate
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Laureth Phosphate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Polyquaternium-7, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Bisabolol, Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Methyltaurate, Sodium Sarcosinate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl 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 BetaineDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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.
Sodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
