What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingParfum
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Sorbitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Zinc Ricinoleate
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChloramine T
AntimicrobialSodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Cocamide Mipa, Niacinamide, C12-13 Alketh-9, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Sorbitol, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-7, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Kojic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hexylene Glycol, Propanediol, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Chloramine T, Sodium Bicarbonate, CI 19140, Ascorbic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sodium Carbonate, Limonene, Geraniol, Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingZinc Pyrithione
Antiseborrhoeic
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyquaternium-7
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Zinc Pyrithione, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-7, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate
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 GlycerinPolyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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
