What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Talc
Abrasive
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium C12-14 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantSodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingCarrageenan
Silk Powder
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningMethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningNasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingProtease
Exfoliating
Lipase
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Talc, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium C12-14 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Potassium Laurate, Carrageenan, Silk Powder, Water, Methicone, Butylene Glycol, Isostearyl Alcohol, BHT, Alcohol, Polyquaternium-51, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Lactic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Protease, Lipase, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol
Talc
Abrasive
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Glycylglycine
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentZinc Lauroyl Aspartate
Dextrin
AbsorbentTea-Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate
Cleansing
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
Algin
Masking
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Protease
Exfoliating
Lipase
Skin ConditioningZinc Phosphate
PEG-8 Phosphate
Skin ProtectingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Talc, Zea Mays Starch, Glycylglycine, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Zinc Lauroyl Aspartate, Dextrin, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Trehalose, Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate, Myristyl Myristate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Water, Sorbitol, Algin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyquaternium-51, Papain, Protease, Lipase, Zinc Phosphate, PEG-8 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Lipase yet.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPolyquaternium-51 is a polymer salt. It helps hydrate the skin by creating a film on top. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
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 ProteaseTalc 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
