What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Olivate
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingCedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingElettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSantalum Album Oil
MaskingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Myristic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Olivate, Palmitic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lauryl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Decyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Santalum Album Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCitrus Limon Fruit Oil
AstringentSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingLauric Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantSalix Alba Bark Water
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glycol Distearate
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Myristic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Ethyl Hexanediol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Lauric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Salix Alba Bark Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Glycol Distearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citric Acid
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 GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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