What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyquaternium-10
Menthol
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantPentasodium Pentetate
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingNardostachys Jatamansi Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingHistidine
HumectantProline
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingTryptophan
MaskingThreonine
Tyrosine
MaskingTaurine
BufferingOrnithine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingAsparagine
MaskingCystine
MaskingMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingMethionine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningGlutamine
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantGlycine
BufferingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Lauryl Glucoside, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyquaternium-10, Menthol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Pentasodium Pentetate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Nardostachys Jatamansi Rhizome/Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Histidine, Proline, Phenylalanine, Tryptophan, Threonine, Tyrosine, Taurine, Ornithine, Arginine, Alanine, Isoleucine, Aspartic Acid, Asparagine, Cystine, Mentha Viridis Extract, Serine, Valine, Methionine, Leucine, Lysine, Glutamine, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLauryl Betaine
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Salicylate
PreservativeMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingMenthol
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIllicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingOcimum Basilicum Oil
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingViola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Seed Extract
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauryl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Trihydroxystearin, Polyquaternium-10, Caffeine, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Salicylate, Mentha Piperita Oil, Menthol, Citric Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Dextrin, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosphingosine, Biotin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric 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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidThis ingredient is a cleansing agent, surfactant, and foam booster. It considered an alternative to traditional sulfates (Sulfosuccinate) and is allowed in "sulfate-free" products.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is mild and can be used in baby and bath options.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinMenthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
Menthol is known for its cooling sensation; however, the cooling is actually from your skin being sensitized. Menthol can worsen rosacea. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Menthol also has antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about MentholPolyquaternium-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-10Water. 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