What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPiroctone Olamine
Preservative
Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-10
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientEtidronic Acid
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBiota Orientalis Leaf Extract
HumectantPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDiaminopyrimidine Oxide
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingChrysin
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Hexapeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate, Sodium Chloride, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Cocamide Mea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Betaine, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Piroctone Olamine, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Etidronic Acid, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Phytosteryl Oleate, Glyceryl Behenate, Sodium Benzoate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Caffeine, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Biota Orientalis Leaf Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cyclodextrin, Chlorphenesin, Adenosine, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Diaminopyrimidine Oxide, Niacinamide, Yeast Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Citrate, Chrysin, Arginine, Oleanolic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Hexapeptide-3, Biotin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric 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 AcidCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPolyquaternium-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-10Sodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateWater. 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
