What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Polyquaternium-7
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Menthol
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caviar Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Polyquaternium-7, Phenoxyethanol, Menthol, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mentha Piperita Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, Caviar Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate
Emulsifying
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Hypochlorous Acid
Antiseborrhoeic
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientLactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Hypochlorous Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl 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 BetaineEthylhexylglycerin 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 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
