What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingUrea
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Glycolate
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingLactic Acid
BufferingDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicGlycerin
HumectantMentha Piperita Oil
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Urea, Polysorbate 20, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Chloride, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Allantoin, Sodium Glycolate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactic Acid, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Glycerin, Mentha Piperita Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EDTAThis ingredient is derived from caprylic and capric acids. It is an emulsifier with emollient properties.
According to the manufacturer, it is hydrophilic and soluble in aqueous solutions (water). They also state this ingredient is stable in a medium pH range (~5 - 8).
As an emulsifier, it helps make oils and oil-soluble ingredients more soluble in water.
Learn more about PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric GlyceridesPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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