What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-10
Prunus Amygdalus Amara Kernel Oil
Masking
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Surfactant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pyrus Malus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTetradecene
EmollientHexadecene
SolventDisodium EDTA
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Officinale Flower Water
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLeonurus Sibiricus Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-10, Prunus Amygdalus Amara Kernel Oil, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Citric Acid, Pyrus Malus Leaf Extract, Tetradecene, Hexadecene, Disodium EDTA, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Leonurus Sibiricus Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Surfactant
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-10
Citric Acid
Buffering
Menthol
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Pentasodium Pentetate
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Allium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Lauryl Glucoside, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid, Menthol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Pentasodium Pentetate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Cysteine, Methionine, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 AcidThis 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.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideThis ingredient is a surfactant and foam producer.
Water. 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
