What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Kaolin
Abrasive
Malt Flour
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Dextrin
AbsorbentRice Ferment Lees
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Kaolin, Malt Flour, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Dextrin, Rice Ferment Lees, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Glycosphingolipids, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lysolecithin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Pentylene Glycol, Water, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Phenoxyethanol
Carrageenan
Silk
Methicone
Emollient
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantLipase
Skin ConditioningTalc
Abrasive
Protease
Exfoliating
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Tar Oil
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Methylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Laurate
CleansingEthyl Glucoside
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Oxide
BufferingBrassica Campestris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-18 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCarrageenan, Silk, Methicone, Isostearyl Alcohol, BHT, Lactic Acid, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Lipase, Talc, Protease, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Tar Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Water, Potassium Laurate, Dipropylene Glycol, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Polyquaternium-51, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Methylparaben, Sodium Laurate, Ethyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Oxide, Brassica Campestris Extract, Sodium C14-18 Olefin Sulfonate
Alternatives
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 GlycolMethylparaben is a synthetic preservative and one of the most widely used in the world. It has a simple, but important job: prevent your products from going bad by stopping bacteria, yeast, and mold from growing.
Typical use levels are low, often 0.1-0.3%.
This is also one of the most heavily studied preservatives out there and major regulatory bodies have repeatedly given it the green light.
In 2023, the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) confirmed that this ingredient is safe up to 0.4% on its own, of up to 0.8% when mixed with other paraben esters.
Here's the science behind the noise behind parabens/hormones as well:
Methylparaben shows very weak estrogen-like activity in vitro tests (more than 1,000x weaker than your body's own estradiol). In vivo (live-organism) studies don't support a meaningful endocrine-disrupting effect either.
You get a stronger estrogenic effect from eating tofu, actually.
It's also a low sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon; they usually happen on damage or broken skin.
There is a caveat: France has proposed to formally re-examine its endocrine classification in 2025 so the regulatory conversation isn't fully closed as of yet.
But as it stands today, this ingredient is considered safe at permitted levels.
Learn more about MethylparabenPhenoxyethanol 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.
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 SulfonateWater. 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
