What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-32
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycol Stearate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientSodium Methyltaurate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-7
Coconut Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract
AstringentMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sorbitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-32, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-150 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Stearate, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Methyltaurate, Allantoin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyquaternium-7, Coconut Acid, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propolis Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate
Glycerin
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPEG-32
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
AntioxidantImperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantOpuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantDisodium EDTA
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingParfum
MaskingArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
PerfumingSantalum Album Oil
MaskingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGlycerin, Sorbitol, Water, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Potassium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Snail Secretion Filtrate, PEG-32, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Malt Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, PEG-100 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Caramel, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, CI 17200, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Parfum, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Santalum Album Oil, Hydroxycitronellal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol
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 GlycolCocamidopropyl 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 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidMyristic Acid, aka tetradecanoic acid, is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in coconut oil and palm oil.
In skincare, it is an:
Research indicates that this ingredient posts a low risk of irritation and sensitization.
Since myristic acid is a C14 fatty acid, it falls within the range that Malassezia can metabolize, and therefore not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
PEG-32 is a synthetic and water-soluble polymer with 32 repeating units. It has humectant, solvent, and emulsifying properties.
As a solvent and emulsifier, it helps dissolve and blend ingredients. It is also able to attract water as a humectant to help hydrate skin. According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is non-greasy, gentle, and mildly scented.
Japanese manufacturers will sometimes call this ingredient PEG 1540.
Learn more about PEG-32Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is a gentle, coconut-derived cleansing surfactant. It's most commonly found in "sulfate-free" cleansers.
As a taurate, it belongs to a class of anionic surfactants prized for being efficient at cleansing without harshness, good performance in hard water, stability across a wide pH range, and easily biodegradable.
It is able to lift away oil and grime and make a nice lather without stripping your skin, so it's a good pick for sensitive skin.
Safety-wise, it has a good record. The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and concentrations go up to 11% in leave-on products or 13% in rinse-off products.
Despite being derived from coconut oil, this ingredient is fungal acne safe. It's a water-soluble surfactant with no fatty oils or esters left intact on skin for the Malassezia yeast to feed.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateSorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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