What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Juglans Regia Shell Powder
Abrasive
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPrunus Armeniaca Seed Powder
Abrasive
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Acrylates Copolymer, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Laureth-4, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Citric Acid, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-12
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ceteareth-6
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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.
Tocopheryl 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 Water
