What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingLauryl Betaine
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Masking
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Propanediol
Solvent
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate
Emollient
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningCanola Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Lauryl Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrated Silica, Trihydroxystearin, Glycol Distearate, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Lauric Acid, Sodium Metaphosphate, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Propanediol, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycine Max Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Madecassoside, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Canola Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCocamide Mea
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Masking
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Natto Gum
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Cholesterol
Emollient
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sorbitol, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamide Mea, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Natto Gum, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Mannitol, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Silica, Cholesterol
Reviews
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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPanax Ginseng Root Water is created by distilling ginseng, popular herb from Asia.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient has antioxidant and skin brightening properties.
Read more about the benefits of Panax Ginseng Root Extract.
Learn more about Panax Ginseng Root WaterSodium 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 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
