What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientParfum
MaskingPolyquaternium-7
Castoryl Maleate
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLauryl Alcohol
Emollient2-Benzylheptanol
MaskingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMenthone Glycerin Acetal
RefreshingMenthol
MaskingDisodium EDTA
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGeraniol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Parfum, Polyquaternium-7, Castoryl Maleate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lauryl Alcohol, 2-Benzylheptanol, Decylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Proline, Hydroxyproline, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Menthol, Disodium EDTA, CI 42090, Sodium Hydroxide, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSorbitol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingParfum
MaskingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Oryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ag
HumectantOryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Parfum, PEG-150 Distearate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Betaine, Disodium EDTA, Oryza Sativa Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Ceramide Ag, Oryza Sativa Cera, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, CI 42090, CI 14700
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 42090 is a synthetic dye created from petroleum. It is used to give a bright blue color to cosmetics, medicine, and food.
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 BetaineDecyl 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 not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideDisodium 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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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