What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Citric Acid
BufferingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentWater, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Citric Acid, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates Copolymer, Tromethamine, Ethyl Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerButylene 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 AcidCocamidopropyl 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 BetainePhenoxyethanol 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.
Chances 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.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water