What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTea-Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide DEA
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Water
Masking
Geranium Maculatum Oil
Masking
Ormenis Multicaulis Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Leonurus Sibiricus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
SoothingAlgae Extract
EmollientCaulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Enteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Water, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Ormenis Multicaulis Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Leonurus Sibiricus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Algae Extract, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Polysorbate 20, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, CI 42090, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Camellia Oleifera Seed Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Hydroxyacetophenone, Camellia Oleifera Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Saccharide Isomerate, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
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
Caprylyl 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 or alcohol, 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
