What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCocamide DEA
Emulsifying
Tea-Laurate/Myristate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Trisodium EDTA
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Cocamide DEA, Tea-Laurate/Myristate, Potassium Cocoate, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Trisodium EDTA, Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Water, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is an amino acid-based surfactant and cleaning agent. This ingredient can be derived from animals or plants. It may also be synthetically created from fatty acids of the coconut and glycine.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is a gentle surfactant. Surfactants help gather the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away. It is a mild cleanser and naturally produces foam.
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 Water
