What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Palm Kernelate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Potassium Palmitate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Stearate
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Methylparaben
PreservativePolyquaternium-43
Propylparaben
PreservativeHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingArginine
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantMilk Protein Extract
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantEthyl Hexanediol
SolventCitrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Potassium Palm Kernelate, Potassium Cocoate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Glycol Distearate, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate, Acrylates Copolymer, Potassium Palmitate, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Glycol Stearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Methylparaben, Polyquaternium-43, Propylparaben, Hydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Milk Protein Extract, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Ethyl Hexanediol, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Palm Kernelate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingMilk Protein Extract
Glycol Distearate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingArginine
MaskingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Palmitate
EmulsifyingSodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-43
Polyquaternium-7
Stearic Acid
CleansingHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingAroma
Water, Potassium Palm Kernelate, Potassium Cocoate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Milk Protein Extract, Glycol Distearate, Niacinamide, Arginine, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Propylene Glycol, Potassium Palmitate, Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Polyquaternium-43, Polyquaternium-7, Stearic Acid, Hydroxystearic Acid, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Benzoate, Aroma
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineGlycol Distearate serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.
It's often included in cleansers and haircare products to give them a lustrous or shimmering appearance.
It is derived from stearic acid, a natural fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats.
Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateThis ingredient is a semi-synthetic polymer created from cellulose. In case you need a refresher, cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls.
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose has many uses:
- emulsifier
- create a gel-like texture
- boost foam
Hydroxystearic Acid (HSA) is a wax-like fatty acid. It is a surfactant, emollient, and emulsifier.
Surfactants are cleansing ingredients. They reduce the surface tension of dirt and grime to be removed easily.
HSA is an emulsifier in certain formulations. Emulsifiers prevent ingredients from separating.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne, safe.
Learn more about Hydroxystearic AcidLauryl 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.
Methylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenWe don't have a description for Milk Protein Extract yet.
Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWe don't have a description for Polyquaternium-43 yet.
Polyquaternium-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.
This ingredient is the potassium salt of coconut acid. Coconut acid is created by mixing fatty acids from coconut oil.
It is an emulsifier, surfactant, and cleanser. According to a manufacturer, it contains glycerin.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is an amino acid-based surfactant and cleaning agent. This ingredient can be derived from animals or plants. It may also be synthetically created from fatty acids of the coconut and glycine.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is a gentle surfactant. Surfactants help gather the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away. It is a mild cleanser and naturally produces foam.
We don't have a description for Potassium Palm Kernelate yet.
We don't have a description for Potassium Palmitate yet.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolPropylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben with antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
This ingredient can be naturally found in plants and insects, but most of it is synthetically manufactured for human use. In cosmetics, it is usually created by reacting para-aminobenzoic acid and propanol (an alcohol).
You can usually find this ingredient in water-based products.
Parabens have come under controversy due to the claim they are hormone disruptors. Studies show conflicting results. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Propylparaben is commonly found in food, medicine, and cosmetics.
Learn more about PropylparabenSodium 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 BenzoateChances 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 Cocoyl Glycinate is a cleansing agent. It can be naturally derived or synthetically-created.
As a surfactant, it helps clean your skin by gathering dirt, oil, and other pollutants to be rinsed away more easily.
We don't have a description for Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate yet.
Stearic 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