What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveBehenic Acid
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingLauric Acid
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningGalactoarabinan
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningPantethine
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantChamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMenthol
MaskingPEG-3 Distearate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sorbic Acid
PreservativeDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Silica, Behenic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Palmitic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Galactoarabinan, Panthenol, Pantethine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Menthol, PEG-3 Distearate, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 61570
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCoco-Betaine
CleansingAcrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
Tea-Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingTriethanolamine
BufferingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDecyl Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialBenzophenone-3
UV AbsorberDisodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingZea Mays Germ Oil
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningMenthol
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingPolyquaternium-39
Tocopherol
AntioxidantBenzoic Acid
MaskingAmmonium Sulfate
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, Tea-Lauryl Sulfate, Triethanolamine, Coco-Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Benzophenone-3, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Caffeine, Menthol, Limonene, Polyquaternium-39, Tocopherol, Benzoic Acid, Ammonium Sulfate, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Juice, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090, CI 14700
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 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 GlycerinMenthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
Menthol is known for its cooling sensation; however, the cooling is actually from your skin being sensitized. Menthol can worsen rosacea. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Menthol also has antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about MentholPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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