What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingGlycol Distearate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantTetradecene
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingHexadecene
SolventPolyquaternium-10
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Syriacus Flower Extract
AntioxidantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Mea, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Tetradecene, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Hexadecene, Polyquaternium-10, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Maltodextrin, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Syriacus Flower Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Benzyl Glycol, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingTrimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
CleansingAroma
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Polyquaternium-7
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMyristamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
CleansingGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientPhytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantPiroctone Olamine
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMethyl Alcohol
SolventBisabolol
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSqualane
EmollientHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCrataegus Pinnatifida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Phenoxyethanol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Glyceryl Oleate, Coco-Glucoside, Aroma, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Citric Acid, Sodium PCA, Glycerin, Myristamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Glyceryl Behenate, Phytosteryl Oleate, Sodium Polyaspartate, Piroctone Olamine, Propylene Glycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Methyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Squalane, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Salicylic Acid, Artemisia Annua Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Crataegus Pinnatifida Fruit Extract, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate
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
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
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 ChlorideWater. 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