What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSuccinic Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingPPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventPiroctone Olamine
PreservativeMenthol
MaskingClimbazole
AntimicrobialMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingIllicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
MaskingPolyquaternium-22
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingMentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingOcimum Basilicum Oil
MaskingPropanediol
SolventLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingViola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingCentella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Seed Extract
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Succinic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Caffeine, Trihydroxystearin, Salicylic Acid, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Piroctone Olamine, Menthol, Climbazole, Mentha Piperita Oil, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Sodium Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil, Polyquaternium-22, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Propanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventPolyquaternium-10
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantAvena Sativa Protein Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingMonarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingXylitol
HumectantCaprylic Acid
CleansingSilk Amino Acids
HumectantEthyl Hexanediol
SolventCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Mea, Parfum, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Polyquaternium-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Aspergillus Ferment, Arginine, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Avena Sativa Protein Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Xylitol, Caprylic Acid, Silk Amino Acids, Ethyl Hexanediol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether 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 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