What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Talc
AbrasiveSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingCellulose
AbsorbentZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentLauric Acid
CleansingCarrageenan
Sodium Malate
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialVp/Va Copolymer
BHT
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSilk
Ethyl Glucoside
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningProtease
ExfoliatingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLipase
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42053
Cosmetic ColorantTalc, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Cellulose, Zea Mays Starch, Lauric Acid, Carrageenan, Sodium Malate, Alcohol, Vp/Va Copolymer, BHT, Dipropylene Glycol, Silk, Ethyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Water, Protease, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lipase, Centella Asiatica Leaf/Stem Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, CI 19140, CI 42053
Carrageenan
Silk
Methicone
EmollientIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingTea-Lauroyl Glutamate
CleansingLipase
Skin ConditioningTalc
AbrasiveProtease
ExfoliatingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Tar Oil
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Myristyl Lauroyl Glutamate
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialMethylparaben
PreservativeSodium Laurate
CleansingEthyl Glucoside
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLauryl Laurate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Oxide
BufferingBrassica Campestris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-18 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCarrageenan, Silk, Methicone, Isostearyl Alcohol, BHT, Lactic Acid, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Tea-Lauroyl Glutamate, Lipase, Talc, Protease, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Tar Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Water, Potassium Laurate, Glyceryl Myristyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Dipropylene Glycol, Lactobacillus, Polyquaternium-51, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Methylparaben, Sodium Laurate, Ethyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lauryl Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Oxide, Brassica Campestris Extract, Sodium C14-18 Olefin Sulfonate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTButylene 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 GlycolCarrageenan comes from red seaweed or algae. It is made up of polysaccharides and a highly flexible compound. Red algae cell walls are rich in carrageenan.
In cosmetics, it helps to thicken the texture. Studies show carrageenan extracted from red algae possess antioxidant properties. Components found in carrageenan include: lipids, fatty acids, Vitamin E, proteins, and several amino acids.
Learn more about different types of algae.
Carrageenan is also commonly used in medicine and food. It is a vegan alternative to animal-based gelatin.
Learn more about CarrageenanDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolWe don't have a description for Ethyl Glucoside yet.
We don't have a description for Lipase yet.
Protease is an enzyme that works as a gentle exfoliant by mimicking something your skin already does naturally.
Your skin uses proteolytic enzymes to carry out desquamation; this is the process of shedding dead skin cells from the stratum corneum.
In skincare, proteases act as biological catalysts that mimic this natural desquamation process. You can think of it as giving your skin's own renewal system a nudge.
By breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together, proteases help accelerate cell turnover to:
One reason they're becoming a popular AHA alternative is because proteases are considered effective while also being well-tolerated on skin. Because they work at a protein level rather than by lowering the skin pH, they can be a good option for those sensitive to AHAs.
Available in vitro and in vivo studies show positive exfoliant results but clinical (human) trials specifically on enzymatic exfoliation are still limited at this time.
Just one thing worth noting: temperature, pH, and stabilization are important factors that affect enzyme activity. The formulation quality definitely matters with this ingredient.
This ingredient can be either microbial sourced or plant-derived (papain from papaya, bromelain from pineapple).
Learn more about ProteaseWe don't have a description for Silk yet.
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium 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 Lauroyl Glutamate is the sodium salt from the lauric acid of glutamic acid.
It is a surfactant and helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants from your skin so they may be washed away easily.
We don't have a description for Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate yet.
Talc is a clay mineral. It helps absorb moisture and improve the texture of products. Like other types of clay, Talc can have a slight exfoliating effect on skin. Talc can be added to increase the volume of products.
Some Baby powders are made by combining talc with corn starch. The word "talc" comes from Latin and originates from Arabic. Talc is a mineral commonly found throughout the world.
If you have any concerns about using talc, we recommend checking out the FDA's official page.
Learn more about TalcWater. 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