What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Betaine, Glycerin, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Levulinate, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 PCA
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningSodium Surfactin
CleansingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Betaine, Pantolactone, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-3 PCA, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Sodium Surfactin, Lactic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 BetaineCitric 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 AcidCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum.
It is a conditioning ingredient, meaning it helps soften skin and hair.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
