What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Amodimethicone
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDicocodimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Steartrimonium Chloride
Preservative
PEG-200 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Creatine
Skin ConditioningCetearamidoethyl Diethonium Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Gamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Ceteth-20
CleansingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Water, Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Sodium Citrate, Dicocodimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Steartrimonium Chloride, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Creatine, Cetearamidoethyl Diethonium Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Propanediol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Gamma-Docosalactone, Phytosterols, Ceteth-20, Isopropyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Seed Oil
Camellia Japonica Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantPolyquaternium-64
Steartrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Dicocodimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Water, Alcohol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Polyquaternium-64, Steartrimonium Chloride, Dicocodimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Isopropyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholCitric 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 AcidWe don't have a description for Dicocodimonium Chloride yet.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine (aka DLGL) is an amino-acid based surfactant. Because it has two fatty tails and two water-loving ends, it's really great at mixing oils and water into stable textures.
It is also a humectant; like hyaluronic acid, it can draw moisture to your skin.
DLGL has been studied as a skin delivery helper. In lab skin models, it increased accumulation/penetration of hydrophilic actives (like vitamin C).
An Australian NICNAS report states DLGL to be non-irritating to skin at less than 10% and non-irritating to eyes at less than 1%. There's no evidence of skin sensitization in animal tests, but be sure to patch test if you are sensitive to surfactants.
Learn more about Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide LysineSteartrimonium Chloride is a preservative.
Water. 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
