What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCoconut Acid
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Isethionate
CleansingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPolyquaternium-67
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
MaskingTriticum Vulgare Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicRaphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coconut Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Isethionate, Salicylic Acid, Polyquaternium-67, Hydroxyacetophenone, Centella Asiatica Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Triticum Vulgare Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Brassica Campestris Extract, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingDimethyl Sulfone
SolventMontmorillonite
AbsorbentIllite
AbrasiveDextrin
AbsorbentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
BufferingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Dimethyl Sulfone, Montmorillonite, Illite, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Malic Acid, Pyrus Malus Fruit 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.
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
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateSalicylic 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 AcidSodium Cocoyl Glycinate is a cleansing agent. It can be naturally derived or synthetically-created.
As a surfactant, it helps clean your skin by gathering dirt, oil, and other pollutants to be rinsed away more easily.
This gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
According to the manufacturer, it is soluble in water and has resistance to hard water, acid, and alkali.
Due to its coconut base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
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