What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Polyquaternium-10
Sodium Phytate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Maleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingPyrus Communis Twig Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Fruit Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Peel Extract
Astringent
Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract
AstringentAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Water, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Phytate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Maleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Pyrus Communis Twig Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Algin
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seedcake Extract
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSantalum Album Wood Extract
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Decyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycol Distearate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Propanediol, Colloidal Oatmeal, Hydroxyacetophenone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Triethyl Citrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lactic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seedcake Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Rose Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract yet.
Sodium 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 BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Cocoyl Glutamate is a gentle cleanser and surfactant. It is the sodium salt of the Cocoyl Glutamic Acid and comes from coconut oil. As a surfactant, it helps lift dirt and oil to be washed away.
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate also has an emolliating effect and can help leave the skin feeling soft.
Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
