What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingTea-Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-10
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Pinus Pinaster Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGold
Cosmetic ColorantSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingGlycine Max Callus Culture
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Echium Lycopsis Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Eucalyptus Dives Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Water, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Pinus Pinaster Leaf Extract, Gold, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Glycine Max Callus Culture, Limonene, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Echium Lycopsis Fruit Oil, Eucalyptus Dives Leaf Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Surfactant
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-10
Citric Acid
Buffering
Menthol
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Pentasodium Pentetate
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Allium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Lauryl Glucoside, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid, Menthol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Pentasodium Pentetate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Cysteine, Methionine, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AcidThis ingredient is a cleansing agent, surfactant, and foam booster. It considered an alternative to traditional sulfates (Sulfosuccinate) and is allowed in "sulfate-free" products.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is mild and can be used in baby and bath options.
Hydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneLauryl Glucoside sugar- and lipid-based cleansing agent. It is created from glucose and lauryl alcohol.
This ingredient is a surfactant, making it easier to rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants away.
A British study found lauryl glucoside to cause skin sensitivity for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Other names for this ingredient include "Lauryl Polyglucose", "Lauryl glycoside", and "D-Glucopyranoside".
Learn more about Lauryl GlucosideThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Tea tree oil is a complex lipophilic (fat-loving) oil that contains around 100 compounds with terpinen-4-ol being the most abundant (~40%).
Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for tea tree oil's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes it a well-researched option for acne.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
Besides acne, it is also seen in anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments for it's antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties.
Safety-wise, the allergic potential of low concentrations on healthy skin is considered low. However, oxidized (old or improperly stored) tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.
Irritation can also occur if using the undiluted oil on skin; it's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted cosmetic formula. This is because regulations require tea tree oil in cosmetics to be stabilized to prevent degradation.
This ingredient has been deemed safe up to 2% in shampoo, 1% in cleansers, and 0.1% in face cream by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There is some lab evidence that tea tree oil is antifungal against Malassezia, but it is a supportive option at best and not a replacement for proven antifungal treatments.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilPolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Sage leaf extract is a culinary and medicinal herb with antibacterial, antioxidant, and soothing properties.
This ingredient is made up of 75-90% ursolic acid, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound.
Chances 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
