What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningBrassicyl Valinate Esylate
EmollientCetyl Esters
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientCalcium Gluconate
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Potassium Lactate
BufferingXimenia Americana Seed Oil
Emollient
PCA
Humectant
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Oleate
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Algin
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Serine
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialValine
MaskingCarrageenan
Chitosan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Crambe Maritima Extract
Skin ProtectingUlmus Fulva Bark Extract
MoisturisingCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Propanediol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Isoamyl Laurate, Squalane, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Brassicyl Valinate Esylate, Cetyl Esters, Pentylene Glycol, Phenethyl Benzoate, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Sodium PCA, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Calcium Gluconate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Panthenol, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Sodium Phytate, Aspartic Acid, Potassium Lactate, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, PCA, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Octyldodecanol, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Propylene Glycol, Glycine, Citric Acid, Alanine, Algin, Coco-Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Serine, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Valine, Carrageenan, Chitosan, Xanthan Gum, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Crambe Maritima Extract, Ulmus Fulva Bark Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningVp/Methacrylamide/Vinyl Imidazole Copolymer
PEG-40/PPG-8 Methylaminopropyl/Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Vp/Methacrylamide/Vinyl Imidazole Copolymer, PEG-40/PPG-8 Methylaminopropyl/Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Copolymer, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyimide-1, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 SorbatePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
