What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Zinc Pyrithione
Antiseborrhoeic
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Amylopectin
Sodium Sulfate
Hexadecene
SolventTetradecene
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Succinic Acid
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingWater, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Butylene Glycol, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Zinc Pyrithione, Panthenol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Salicylic Acid, Bisabolol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Amylopectin, Sodium Sulfate, Hexadecene, Tetradecene, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate, Phenoxyethanol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Succinic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Arisaema Amurense Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glutathione
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycine
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40
HumectantHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantWater, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Niacinamide, Alpha-Arbutin, Saccharide Isomerate, Arisaema Amurense Extract, Propylene Glycol, Xylitylglucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Decyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Glutathione, Kojic Acid, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Glycine, Potassium Sorbate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Maltodextrin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Menthyl Lactate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Ethoxydiglycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric 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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
This ingredient is also called sugarcane extract. It is a moisturizing humectant and has skin soothing properties.
Similar to hyaluronic acid, sugarcane can attract moisture to your skin.
Glycolic acid is a derivative of sugarcane. While glycolic acid is an AHA with exfoliating properties, sugarcane is not an AHA.
A study from 2021 found the compounds in sugarcane extract to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity. The study also suggests these compounds can inhibit skin ageing enzymes and promote collagen synthesis.
Learn more about Saccharum Officinarum ExtractSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
