What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingArginine
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBetaine
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Laurate
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Arginine, Sodium Chloride, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Lauric Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Laurate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Coptis Chinensis Root Extract
Antioxidant
Gluconic Acid
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialPimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract
MaskingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Melo Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Chloride, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Saccharomyces Ferment, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Malachite Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Gluconic Acid, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid
Reviews
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCoco-Betaine is the natural version of Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is often derived from coconuts.
Coco-Betaine is a surfactant, meaning it helps remove dirt and oil from the skin.
Disodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneChances 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 Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate is a cleansing ingredient. It is a surfactant, meaning it helps gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants. This helps them be rinsed away easily.
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
