What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSorbitol
Humectant
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-22
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sorbitol, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-22, Lauric Acid, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Propanediol, Tocopherol, Madecassoside, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Acrylates Copolymer
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Cnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentArachis Hypogaea Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Vulgaris Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Acrylates Copolymer, C12-14 Pareth-12, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Arachis Hypogaea Fruit Extract, Phaseolus Vulgaris Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Limonene, Linalool
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCaprylyl 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 GlycolDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate is a surfactant and helps cleanse skin. It is created from the fatty acids of coconut oil.
Surfactants help rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants easily from skin. It has a faint fruit-like scent.
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 GlycerinLauryl Hydroxysultaine is a mild surfactant or cleansing ingredient that helps lift away dirt/oil, boost foam, and thicken the formula. It plays nicely with other surfactants and stays stable across a wide pH range.
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 PropanediolChances 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 ChlorideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
