What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingEriophorum Spissum Flower/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Eriophorum Spissum Flower/Stem Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbic Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientXylitol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningCanola Oil
Emollient
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingBehenic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Xylitol, Squalane, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Juice, Canola Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Inulin, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, Saccharide Isomerate, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Cellulose Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Carrageenan, Behenic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Levulinate, Potassium Sorbate, Maris Sal, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol 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
