What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPalmitic Acid
EmollientLauric Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantPotassium Chloride
Polyquaternium-7
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingCoconut Acid
CleansingViola Tricolor Extract
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativeSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantKaolin
AbrasivePropylparaben
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingWater, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Potassium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Potassium Cocoate, Coconut Acid, Viola Tricolor Extract, Methylparaben, Sodium Hyaluronate, Kaolin, Propylparaben, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disteardimonium Hectorite
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingLauryl Betaine
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Citric Acid
BufferingPEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate
SurfactantSodium Chloride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingCeramide As
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingArginine
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantStearic Acid
CleansingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauryl Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Citric Acid, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Coco-Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Niacinamide, Ceramide As, Panthenol, Ceramide Ns, Salicylic Acid, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Stearic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine
Reviews
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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 HyaluronateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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