What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Niacinamide, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Chloride, Methyl Gluceth-20, Xylitol, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Allantoin, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyglutamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Panthenol, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Potassium Cocoate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl 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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 BenzoateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
