What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate
CleansingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Triethyl Citrate
MaskingGamma-Nonalactone
MaskingVanillin
MaskingMaltol
MaskingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantCoconut Acid
CleansingGlutamic Acid
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Triethyl Citrate, Gamma-Nonalactone, Vanillin, Maltol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium PCA, Coconut Acid, Glutamic Acid, Citric Acid, Linalool
Zinc Pyrithione 1%
AntiseborrhoeicWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingAllium Sativum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingFoeniculum Vulgare Oil
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingMentha Citrata Oil
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingVanillin
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingSqualane
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientYeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Isethionate
CleansingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningOctenidine Hcl
AntimicrobialSodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHexamidine Diisethionate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoconut Alcohol
EmollientRaphanus Sativus Root Extract
AstringentArginine
MaskingGlycolic Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-73
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingZinc Pyrithione 1%, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Stearyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Foeniculum Vulgare Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Mentha Citrata Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Vanillin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Yeast Ferment Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Sodium Isethionate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Octenidine Hcl, Sodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate, Xanthan Gum, Hexamidine Diisethionate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coconut Alcohol, Raphanus Sativus Root Extract, Arginine, Glycolic Acid, Polyquaternium-73, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, 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 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 BenzoateChances 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.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateVanillin is the main compound of the vanilla bean. It is naturally occuring but can also be artificially created.
This ingredient exhibits antioxidant properties but is also a known skin-irritant.
Vanillism is the term of contact-dermatitis associated with the vanilla plant. The sap of the vanilla plant triggers skin irritation, swelling, and redness.
Learn more about VanillinWater. 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