What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
No benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-73
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lauryl Lactyl Lactate
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningMenthol
Masking
Polyquaternium-6
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Polyquaternium-7
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicGlycine
Buffering
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingCereus Grandiflorus Extract
Antioxidant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
Tonic
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Piper Nigrum Seed Extract
RefreshingCrocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Betaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-73, Glycol Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lauryl Lactyl Lactate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Menthol, Polyquaternium-6, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Polyquaternium-7, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Glycerin, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Biotin, Glycine, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Cereus Grandiflorus Extract, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Octyldodecanol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Piper Nigrum Seed Extract, Crocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningLinoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Lauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol
EmulsifyingCassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningPhytantriol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
Emulsifying
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Lauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate, Behenyl Alcohol, Laureth-23, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol, Cassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Polyquaternium-47, Phytantriol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Laureth-4, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.
It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.
Hydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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
