What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Foam Boosting
Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Steardimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Gamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-33
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Honey Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Keratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningPrunus Domestica Seed Extract
EmollientMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen
Moisturising
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Rhododendron Ferrugineum Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Isomalt
HumectantPolyquaternium-10
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Cetearamidoethyl Diethonium Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsostearoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
CleansingPouteria Sapota Seed Oil
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Ceramide Ag
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientCarapa Guaianensis Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingArgania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Myristamine Oxide
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Quaternium-18
SurfactantBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Steardimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Propanediol, Gamma-Docosalactone, Quaternium-33, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Alanine, Hydroxyproline, Hydrolyzed Honey Protein, Sodium PCA, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Prunus Domestica Seed Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Ceramide AP, Isomalt, Polyquaternium-10, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cetearamidoethyl Diethonium Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Pouteria Sapota Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Ceramide Ng, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ceramide Ag, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Argania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Myristamine Oxide, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Lecithin, Quaternium-18, Behentrimonium Chloride, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Caramel
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Foam Boosting
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingPPG-2 Cocamide
Surfactant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Polyquaternium-61
Skin ConditioningSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSodium PCA
Humectant
Polyquaternium-10
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, PPG-2 Cocamide, Ceramide Ng, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine, Polyquaternium-61, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium PCA, Polyquaternium-10, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 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.
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 GlycolCeramide NG is a type of Ceramide. The NG stands for a sphinganine base.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here:
Ceramide AP
Ceramide EOP
Ceramide NP
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidWe don't have a description for Cocamide Methyl Mea yet.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineGlycerin (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-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10We don't have a description for Sodium Cocoamphoacetate yet.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is a gentle, coconut-derived cleansing surfactant. It's most commonly found in "sulfate-free" cleansers.
As a taurate, it belongs to a class of anionic surfactants prized for being efficient at cleansing without harshness, good performance in hard water, stability across a wide pH range, and easily biodegradable.
It is able to lift away oil and grime and make a nice lather without stripping your skin, so it's a good pick for sensitive skin.
Safety-wise, it has a good record. The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and concentrations go up to 11% in leave-on products or 13% in rinse-off products.
Despite being derived from coconut oil, this ingredient is fungal acne safe. It's a water-soluble surfactant with no fatty oils or esters left intact on skin for the Malassezia yeast to feed.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateSodium PCA (the salt of PCA) is one of the most well-established humectants in skincare.
Why is it so special? Your skin already makes it naturally; it's a natural component of your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the mix of water-binding compounds inside your skin cells that keeps things soft and hydrated.
As a cosmetic ingredient, it grabs water and holds it in the upper layers of skin to smooth roughness and ease dehydration.
There's some clinical support for the NMF approach with a study showing that a cream built to mimic the skin's NMF significantly boosted hydration.
Safety-wise, this ingredient non-irritating, non-comedogenic, and non-phototoxic in testing, with minimal skin absorption.
It also works really well with other hydrators like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, and typical usage is somewhere between 0.2-4%.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
