What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Portulaca Oleracea Water
Skin ConditioningCocamide Mea
Emulsifying
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Laurate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-10
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Salmon Egg Extract
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Coco-Betaine, Portulaca Oleracea Water, Cocamide Mea, C12-14 Alketh-12, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyquaternium-10, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Salmon Egg Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Hydrolyzed Silk, Niacinamide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Dna, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Bambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Quaternium-33
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyquaternium-10
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lanolin Acid
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
Masking
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Cranberry Fruit/Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingSaponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Citrate
BufferingVegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Algin
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glyceryl Stearate, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Quaternium-33, Stearyl Alcohol, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citric Acid, Propanediol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-10, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Lanolin Acid, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Cranberry Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Vegetable Oil, Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Algin, Citral, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 AcidDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Water. 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
