What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyquaternium-10
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Leucojum Aestivum Bulb Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Citrate
BufferingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycol Distearate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Limonene, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Steareth-20, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Sodium Lactate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Leucojum Aestivum Bulb Extract, Sodium Citrate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Carbomer, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Glycine Soja Protein, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Superoxide Dismutase, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, Dipeptide-2, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-53
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Chloride, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Kaolin, Coconut Acid, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-53, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 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 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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
