What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantGlycolic Acid 3.5%
BufferingCocamide DEA
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDimethylaminoethanol Tartrate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingAcrylates Crosspolymer-4
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Disodium EDTA
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingSodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid 3.5%, Cocamide DEA, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Dimethylaminoethanol Tartrate, Niacinamide, Acrylates Crosspolymer-4, Panthenol, Polyquaternium-7, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Benzoic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingTriethanolamine
BufferingCocamide DEA
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingPEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSulfur
AntiseborrhoeicPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingTriethylene Glycol
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Xylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
HumectantWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Triethanolamine, Cocamide DEA, Salicylic Acid, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-400, Sodium Hydroxide, Sulfur, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Parfum, Triethylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Sodium Chloride, Cellulose Gum, Glucose
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamide DEA is a coconut-derived cleansing agent that creates rich foam and helps to thicken the consistency of cleansing products.
This ingredient effectively removes dirt and oil while helping to stabilize formulations, making it a common addition to shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers.
It has become less popular in recent formulations due to potential irritation in sensitive skin types and concerns about trace amounts of diethanolamine (DEA), which can potentially form nitrosamines.
While still considered safe at regulated concentrations, many manufacturers now opt for gentler alternatives like cocamidopropyl betaine or other surfactants that offer similar benefits with fewer potential drawbacks.
Learn more about Cocamide DEADisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinChances 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 ChlorideSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateWater. 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