What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Cocamide Methyl Mea
PEG-160 Sorbitan Triisostearate
Cleansing
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Propanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Saccharide Isomerate, Polyquaternium-7, Cocamide Methyl Mea, PEG-160 Sorbitan Triisostearate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-32
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentParfum
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Polycaprolactone
StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
PEG-75
HumectantPolyquaternium-10
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, PEG-32, Potassium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Lauric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Polycaprolactone, CI 77891, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactic Acid, PEG-75, Polyquaternium-10, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Papain, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Reviews
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 BetaineDisodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
