What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingKaolin
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyquaternium-22
Parfum
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Onsen-Sui
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Volcanic Ash
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Propanediol
Solvent
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-10
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Kaolin, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyquaternium-22, Parfum, Salicylic Acid, Silica, Onsen-Sui, Zinc PCA, Volcanic Ash, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Madecassoside, Polyquaternium-10, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Potassium Palmate
SurfactantSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Laureth Phosphate
EmulsifyingDistearyl Phthalic Acid Amide
EmollientCocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Threonine
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Potassium Palmate, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Laureth Phosphate, Distearyl Phthalic Acid Amide, Cocamide Mea, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salicylic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Serine, Histidine, Threonine, Aspartic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 19140, CI 42090
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Disodium 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 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 GlycerinGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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
