What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingHouttuynia Cordata Powder
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Potassium Cocoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Houttuynia Cordata Powder, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingArginine
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingBetaine
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingLauric Acid
CleansingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Laurate
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Arginine, Sodium Chloride, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Lauric Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Laurate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneChances 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