What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hexadecene
SolventTetradecene
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Coco-Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Gluconolactone, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hexadecene, Tetradecene, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Fructan
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Laurylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauryl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Xylitol, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Maltodextrin, Hexylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Ceramide NP, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glucose, Sodium Bicarbonate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Papain, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Fructan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Metabisulfite, Levulinic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Laurylpyridinium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateChances 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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
