What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterDecyl Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingKojic Dipalmitate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveDisodium EDTA
Triethanolamine
BufferingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Kojic Dipalmitate, Tocopherol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Tin Oxide, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientOlive Oil PEG-7 Esters
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctenidine Hcl
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventTriethanolamine
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantProline
Skin ConditioningHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Water, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Coco-Glucoside, Glycol Distearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Oleate, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octenidine Hcl, Propanediol, Triethanolamine, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Proline, Hydroxyproline, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Sodium Phytate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Decyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is below the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Triethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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