What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Water
TonicBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cyanocobalamin, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Water, Beta-Glucan, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Methyl Isethionate
Surfactant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-73
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-10
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantZinc PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingSodium Laurate
CleansingCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Serine
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-73, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-10, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Zinc PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Alanine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Lauryl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Laurate, Coconut Acid, Serine, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
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
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.
It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.
Coco-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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
