What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Quaternium-91
Amodimethicone
Acrylates Copolymer
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Polyquaternium-10
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-39
Laureth-9
EmulsifyingPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-55
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Acetic Acid
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Copaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Isomalt
HumectantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-95
UV AbsorberPropanediol
Solvent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Cocoate, Glycereth-26, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Quaternium-91, Amodimethicone, Acrylates Copolymer, Citric Acid, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyquaternium-10, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Chlorphenesin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Glyceryl Oleate, C11-15 Pareth-7, Polyquaternium-39, Laureth-9, Phospholipids, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Polyquaternium-55, Sodium Benzoate, Panthenol, Trideceth-12, Glycine Soja Oil, Acetic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Persea Gratissima Oil, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Isomalt, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Quaternium-95, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPropyltrimoniumchloride Acrylamide/Dimethylacrylamide Copolymer
Camellia Seed Oil
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSqualane
Emollient
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
PEG-2 Laurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Sulfate
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantLauric Acid
Cleansing
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Aroma
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Propyltrimoniumchloride Acrylamide/Dimethylacrylamide Copolymer, Camellia Seed Oil, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Squalane, Royal Jelly Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Sorbitol, PEG-2 Laurate, Sodium Sulfate, Dipropylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Dimethiconol, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Aroma, CI 19140, CI 15985
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric 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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChloridePhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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
