What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Castoryl Maleate
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentMannitol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Geranyl Acetate
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
CI 51319
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Salicylic Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Parfum, Polysorbate 20, Niacinamide, Betaine, Polyquaternium-7, Castoryl Maleate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Phenoxyethanol, Zinc PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Mannitol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalyl Acetate, Geranyl Acetate, Citral, CI 51319, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Cellulose
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Triethanolamine, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Salicylic Acid, Cellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Gluconate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl 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 BetaineEthylhexylglycerin 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.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, itβs still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic 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
