What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Water
MaskingCoco-Betaine
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Benzoate
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantParfum
MaskingPalmitic Acid
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-67
Stearic Acid
CleansingXylitol
HumectantGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Powder
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningJuglans Regia Shell Powder
AbrasiveSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantGlycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Water, Coco-Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Parfum, Palmitic Acid, Allantoin, Polyquaternium-67, Stearic Acid, Xylitol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Dextrin, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Juice, Oryza Sativa Powder, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Gluconolactone, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCoconut Acid
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
SurfactantCellulose
AbsorbentSodium Isethionate
CleansingParfum
MaskingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Powder
Glycine Soja Seed Powder
AbrasiveCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialDextrin
AbsorbentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
AstringentLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingSodium Chloride
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentBarosma Betulina Leaf Extract
PerfumingCitral
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingTrisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Benzoate
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Coconut Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Cellulose, Sodium Isethionate, Parfum, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Powder, Glycine Soja Seed Powder, Cetearyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Glyceryl Stearate, Betaine, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Coptis Japonica Extract, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Coco-Betaine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Limonene, Sodium Chloride, Linalool, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, Citral, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Citrate, Trisodium Phosphate, Potassium Benzoate, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Citronellol, Geraniol, Farnesol, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCoco-Betaine is the natural version of Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is often derived from coconuts.
Coco-Betaine is a surfactant, meaning it helps remove dirt and oil from the skin.
Dextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinThis ingredient comes from the evergreen flowering plant, gardenia. It has skin conditioning properties.
Glycerin (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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolThis ingredient is a preservative and inhibits the growth of fungi, certain bacteria, yeast, and mold.
It is the potassium salt of benzoic acid.
Potassium benzoate works best in products with a low pH level (below 4.5).
Learn more about Potassium BenzoateSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateWater. 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