What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Citrate
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
SurfactantArginine
Masking
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicGlycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Leucine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Phenylalanine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingHistidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycol Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Citrate, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Niacinamide, Betaine, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate, Arginine, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Butylene Glycol, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Glycine, Serine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Leucine, Lysine, Alanine, Proline, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Tyrosine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Kaolin
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Sweetalmondamphoacetate
CleansingLauryl Betaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingZea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Protease
Exfoliating
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin Conditioning
Lipase
Skin ConditioningKojic Dipalmitate
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Hydrated Silica, Kaolin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Sweetalmondamphoacetate, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Polyglycerin-3, Parfum, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ceramide NP, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ectoin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Oryza Sativa Extract, Phytosphingosine, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Protease, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Dna, Bromelain, Oryzanol, Papain, Lipase, Kojic Dipalmitate
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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinWater. 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
