What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
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
Arginine
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
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
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 Isethionate
CleansingCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingBetaine
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Coconut Acid, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Isethionate, Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Parfum, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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
Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.
This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.
Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.
Another name for betaine is trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolCitric 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 AcidDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate is a modified starch used to help thicken a product.
It is also used in foods.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is an amino acid-based surfactant and cleaning agent. This ingredient can be derived from animals or plants. It may also be synthetically created from fatty acids of the coconut and glycine.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is a gentle surfactant. Surfactants help gather the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away. It is a mild cleanser and naturally produces foam.
Sodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
