What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Volcanic Ash
Abrasive
Avena Sativa Kernel Meal
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAcrylates Copolymer
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Kaolin, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Volcanic Ash, Avena Sativa Kernel Meal, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycolic Acid, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coconut Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
Tea-Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Triethanolamine
BufferingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingZea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Menthol
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Polyquaternium-39
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ammonium Sulfate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, Tea-Lauryl Sulfate, Triethanolamine, Coco-Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Benzophenone-3, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Caffeine, Menthol, Limonene, Polyquaternium-39, Tocopherol, Benzoic Acid, Ammonium Sulfate, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Juice, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090, CI 14700
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzoic Acid is an organic acid that shows up in cosmetics as a preservative. It helps keep a product from spoiling by holding back the growth of yeast, mold, and some bacteria.
This ingredient also functions as a fragrance ingredient that helps mask the unpleasant scent of other ingredients.
The way it works is worth understanding; benzoic acid works when the formula is acidic. It is able to sneak into a microbe's cell and mess up how it functions to stop it from growing in an acidic product.
However, the acid switches to an inactive form and stops working if a product isn't acidic enough (above ~5 pH). This is why you'll often see it in low pH products or teamed up with other preservatives to cover the gap.
Safety wise, it's one of the better studied preservatives out there.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
A large international review found this ingredient had no effects on the human body and had low irritation potential.
Just so you know, real world use is usually much lower than the 5% ceiling (usually 1% of less).
The EU caps it at 2.5% in rinse-off products, 1.7% in oral care, and 0.5% in leave-on products.
One thing worth mentioning (it's nothing to worry about): some people get a little stinging or flushing where they apply it. This isn't a true allergy; it's a temporary and harmless reaction. This is the same kind of mild tingle you might notice from sorbic acid.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidCaprylyl 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 GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Chances 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 ChlorideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
