What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
PEG-8
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide DEA
Emulsifying
PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate
Cleansing
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Petrolatum
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-7
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, PEG-8, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Petrolatum, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Methylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Methyltaurate
Skin ConditioningLauryl Betaine
CleansingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Arginine Cocoate
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sericin
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Pentasodium Pentetate
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Methyltaurate, Lauryl Betaine, Lauric Acid, Arginine Cocoate, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sericin, Myristic Acid, Pentasodium Pentetate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Hydroxide, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolWater. 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
