What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-7
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Squalene
Emollient
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Algin
Masking
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-25
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Magnolia Grandiflora Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pullulan
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-7, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Squalene, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Trehalose, Urea, Lecithin, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Algin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bakuchiol, Behenic Acid, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceteareth-25, Cetyl Alcohol, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Magnolia Grandiflora Leaf Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamide DEA
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Methylparaben
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Polyphosphate
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Erythorbate
Antioxidant
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Butyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAmylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Cocamide DEA, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Methylparaben, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Polyphosphate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Erythorbate, CI 77288, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77492, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butyl Avocadate, Salicylic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol
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 AcidCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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.
Polyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateChances 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.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
