What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methylalanine
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Foam Boosting
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingLaureth-11 Carboxylic Acid
CleansingLaureth-23
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningLanolin Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Tea-Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingBis-Methoxypropylamido Isodocosane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Gamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PEG-6 Sorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-10
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
PPG-2 Cocamide
Surfactant
PEG-160 Sorbitan Triisostearate
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
Foam BoostingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Laureth-16
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-52
PPG-2 Hydroxypropyltrimonium Cellulose
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantStearoxypropyl Dimethylamine
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingDiethyl Sebacate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl Methylalanine, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Laureth-11 Carboxylic Acid, Laureth-23, Sodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Lanolin Acid, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Tea-Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Bis-Methoxypropylamido Isodocosane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Gamma-Docosalactone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Malic Acid, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, PEG-6 Sorbitan Oleate, Polyquaternium-10, Benzyl Alcohol, PPG-2 Cocamide, PEG-160 Sorbitan Triisostearate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Laureth-16, Polyquaternium-52, PPG-2 Hydroxypropyltrimonium Cellulose, Dipropylene Glycol, Stearoxypropyl Dimethylamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Diethyl Sebacate, Butylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, PCA, Sodium PCA, Alcohol Denat., Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Foam Boosting
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingPPG-2 Cocamide
Surfactant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Polyquaternium-61
Skin ConditioningSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSodium PCA
Humectant
Polyquaternium-10
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, PPG-2 Cocamide, Ceramide Ng, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine, Polyquaternium-61, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium PCA, Polyquaternium-10, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCitric 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.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidWe don't have a description for Cocamide Methyl Mea yet.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine is the smallest amino acid and a key building block of collagen. It's part if your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
A study from 2022 found that an amino acid complex featuring taurine, arginine, and glycine significantly reduced skin irritation, improved redness, and accelerated the skin repair process.
Polyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10We don't have a description for PPG-2 Cocamide yet.
We don't have a description for Sodium Cocoamphoacetate yet.
Sodium 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 Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is a gentle, coconut-derived cleansing surfactant. It's most commonly found in "sulfate-free" cleansers.
As a taurate, it belongs to a class of anionic surfactants prized for being efficient at cleansing without harshness, good performance in hard water, stability across a wide pH range, and easily biodegradable.
It is able to lift away oil and grime and make a nice lather without stripping your skin, so it's a good pick for sensitive skin.
Safety-wise, it has a good record. The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and concentrations go up to 11% in leave-on products or 13% in rinse-off products.
Despite being derived from coconut oil, this ingredient is fungal acne safe. It's a water-soluble surfactant with no fatty oils or esters left intact on skin for the Malassezia yeast to feed.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateSodium PCA (the salt of PCA) is one of the most well-established humectants in skincare.
Why is it so special? Your skin already makes it naturally; it's a natural component of your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the mix of water-binding compounds inside your skin cells that keeps things soft and hydrated.
As a cosmetic ingredient, it grabs water and holds it in the upper layers of skin to smooth roughness and ease dehydration.
There's some clinical support for the NMF approach with a study showing that a cream built to mimic the skin's NMF significantly boosted hydration.
Safety-wise, this ingredient non-irritating, non-comedogenic, and non-phototoxic in testing, with minimal skin absorption.
It also works really well with other hydrators like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, and typical usage is somewhere between 0.2-4%.
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
