What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamide DEA
EmulsifyingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentAngelica Gigas Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentWater, Cocamide DEA, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Chlorphenesin, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Angelica Gigas Extract, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Bioflavonoids, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamide DEA
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSilica
AbrasiveAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTriethanolamine
BufferingPropanediol
SolventTetrasodium EDTA
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantVitis Vinifera Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Extract
HumectantBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantSaccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Alpha-Arbutin, Chlorphenesin, Triethanolamine, Propanediol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Vine Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Bifida Ferment Extract, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Bacillus Ferment, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Saccharomyces Ferment
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinCocamide DEA is a coconut-derived cleansing agent that creates rich foam and helps to thicken the consistency of cleansing products.
This ingredient effectively removes dirt and oil while helping to stabilize formulations, making it a common addition to shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers.
It has become less popular in recent formulations due to potential irritation in sensitive skin types and concerns about trace amounts of diethanolamine (DEA), which can potentially form nitrosamines.
While still considered safe at regulated concentrations, many manufacturers now opt for gentler alternatives like cocamidopropyl betaine or other surfactants that offer similar benefits with fewer potential drawbacks.
Learn more about Cocamide DEACocamidopropyl 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 BetaineGlycerin (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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateTetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Water. 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