What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-32
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentLauric Acid
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Parfum
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin, Water, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, PEG-32, Potassium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Lauric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Parfum, Silica, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingSalvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Milk Lipids
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Artemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningMyrtus Communis Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil
Antimicrobial
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Polyquaternium-7
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Theanine
EmollientGlutathione
Copaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Milk Lipids, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Sea Salt, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Myrtus Communis Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Polyquaternium-7, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Theanine, Glutathione, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 GlycerinLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidPolyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSodium 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 BenzoateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
