What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Rubber Latex
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Polyquaternium-10
Thymus Vulgaris Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Caprate
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Arginine
Masking
Aspartame
Tiglic Acid
Perfuming
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Taurine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sprout Extract
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCollybia Mushroom Extract
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Water, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate, Citric Acid, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Glycol Distearate, Coco-Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Rubber Latex, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Polyquaternium-10, Thymus Vulgaris Oil, Glyceryl Caprate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Propanediol, Arginine, Aspartame, Tiglic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Taurine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sprout Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Collybia Mushroom Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyquaternium-10
Citric Acid
Buffering
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Japonica Root Extract
Skin ProtectingDisodium EDTA
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Propanediol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Coco-Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid, Coconut Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Sophora Japonica Root Extract, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
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 AcidDisodium 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate is a modified starch used to help thicken a product.
It is also used in foods.
Polyquaternium-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-10Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
