What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Methyl Isethionate
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-73
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
AntimicrobialPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Magnesium PCA
HumectantManganese PCA
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingPCA
HumectantAlanine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Arginine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingSodium Laurate
CleansingCoconut Acid
CleansingSerine
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, 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
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialPentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Palmitoyl Dipeptide-12
Skin ConditioningMannitol
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCoconut Acid
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycol Distearate, Myristic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Rice Amino Acids, Pisum Sativum Extract, Phosphatidylcholine, Ferulic Acid, Pentasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Palmitoyl Dipeptide-12, Mannitol, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Hydroxide, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Arachidyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Coconut Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
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
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 BetaineCoconut acid is a mixture of fatty acids obtains by hydrolyzing coconut oil and then distilling the fatty acid portion. It works as a cleansing surfactant, emollient, and emulsifier depending on the formulation.
This ingredient is not a single compound but reflects the fatty acid profile of coconut oil itself, which is about 90% saturated. The dominant fatty acid is lauric acid (44-54%) and then myristic acid (13-19%). There are small amount of caprylic, capric, palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids.
Human testing from CIR has shown no indication this ingredient to be a primary irritant, sensitizer, or phototoxic compound. It's also COSMOS-approved for natural and organic products.
Due to the high fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Coconut AcidDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateChances 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 ChlorideSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum