What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Menthol
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Acrylates Crosspolymer-4
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Carbon
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Kaolin
Abrasive
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Panthenol, Menthol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Sodium PCA, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates Crosspolymer-4, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Laureth-4, Carbon, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Kaolin, Glycolic Acid, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Salicylate, Glycerin, Mentha Viridis Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Lauramide Dipa
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Acetic Acid
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Bis-Diisopropanolamino-Pg-Propyl Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PEG-14 Copolymer
Butyloctanol
HumectantC12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium Nitrate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Poly(C20-28 Olefin)
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PPG-3 Myristyl Ether
EmollientSilicone Quaternium-16
Skin Conditioning
Silicone Quaternium-22
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Sulfate
Stearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Undeceth-11
EmollientUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
Masking
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauramide Dipa, Glycerin, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Acetic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Bis-Diisopropanolamino-Pg-Propyl Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PEG-14 Copolymer, Butyloctanol, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Disodium EDTA, Glycol Distearate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Laureth-4, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Panthenol, Parfum, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-8 Laurate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Poly(C20-28 Olefin), Polysorbate 20, PPG-3 Myristyl Ether, Silicone Quaternium-16, Silicone Quaternium-22, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Sulfate, Stearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Undeceth-11, Undeceth-5, Benzoic Acid, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric 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 AcidCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineGlycerin (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 serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.
It's often included in cleansers and haircare products to give them a lustrous or shimmering appearance.
It is derived from stearic acid, a natural fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats.
Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateLaureth-4 is created by reacting ethylene oxide with Lauryl Alcohol. It is a surfactant and emulsifier.
Surfactants reduce the surface tension of ingredients so they can mix better. Emulsifiers prevent ingredients such as oil and water from separating.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 BenzoateSodium 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 HydroxideSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate is an organic salt with a naturally sweet odor. It is an alternative to traditional sulfates and is commonly found in "sulfate-free" products.
In cosmetics, this ingredient is used to increase the volume of foam, emulsify ingredients, and as a cleansing agent.
As a cleansing agent, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate helps reduce the surface tension of dirt, oil, and other pollutants so they can be rinsed away easily.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review found this ingredient to irritate the eyes and skin in concentrations of 0.18% and 0.7%.
Learn more about Sodium Lauryl SulfoacetateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
