What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingChondrus Crispus
Masking
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Escin
TonicSorbitol
Humectant
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Chondrus Crispus, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Potassium Cocoate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacrylate, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Decylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Hydrated Silica, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Chondrus Crispus Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Escin, Sorbitol, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Serine, Proline, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Phenoxyethanol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Gluconolactone, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Trehalose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Decyl Glucoside, Parfum, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Leaf Water, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Bioflavonoids, Citric Acid, Trehalose, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Decyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
