What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
SurfactantDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
PerfumingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Phytate
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Phytate, Malt Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Myristic Acid
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingLauric Acid
CleansingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytic Acid
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingTrehalose
HumectantUrea
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Algin
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPullulan
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Myristic Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Lauric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Alpha-Arbutin, Niacinamide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phytic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Trehalose, Urea, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Pullulan, Potassium Phosphate
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinChances 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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is a gentle, coconut-derived cleansing surfactant. It's most commonly found in "sulfate-free" cleansers.
As a taurate, it belongs to a class of anionic surfactants prized for being efficient at cleansing without harshness, good performance in hard water, stability across a wide pH range, and easily biodegradable.
It is able to lift away oil and grime and make a nice lather without stripping your skin, so it's a good pick for sensitive skin.
Safety-wise, it has a good record. The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and concentrations go up to 11% in leave-on products or 13% in rinse-off products.
Despite being derived from coconut oil, this ingredient is fungal acne safe. It's a water-soluble surfactant with no fatty oils or esters left intact on skin for the Malassezia yeast to feed.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateWater. 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