What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCollagen
MoisturisingSoluble Collagen
HumectantCollagen Amino Acids
MoisturisingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
MaskingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPanicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingValine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantTannic Acid
AstringentCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingSucrose Stearate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Lactose
HumectantCellulose
AbsorbentAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingJojoba Esters
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Coco-Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Collagen, Soluble Collagen, Collagen Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Collagen Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Tannic Acid, Citric Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Sucrose Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Lactose, Cellulose, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Jojoba Esters, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77289, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingSalicylic Acid
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Potassium Hydroxide, Coco-Glucoside, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Salicylic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Phytate, 1,2-Hexanediol
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
Centella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidMyristic 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 AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideStearic 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