What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Avena Sativa Seed Water
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hectorite
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Cellulose
Absorbent
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate
EmulsifyingPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentAvena Sativa Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Aestivum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Tripropylene Glycol
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Avena Sativa Seed Water, Water, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Zea Mays Starch, Kaolin, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Hectorite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol Denat., Cellulose, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Squalane, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Dipropylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Starch, Avena Sativa Peptide, Triticum Aestivum Peptide, Glycine Max Polypeptide, Tripropylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Dna, Beta-Glucan, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-67
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Pullulan
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sea Water
HumectantSodium Acetate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lysine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coco-Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Potassium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-67, Potassium Cocoate, Citric Acid, Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Disodium EDTA, Pullulan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sea Water, Sodium Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beta-Glucan, Phosphatidylcholine, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Serine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lysine, Alanine, Arginine, Threonine, Proline
Reviews
Alternatives
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
Beta-Glucan is a polysaccharide. It can be derived from the cell walls of seaweed, oats, yeast, and fungi. It hydrates the skin and helps boost your skin's natural barrier.
As an antioxidant, beta-glucan helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Studies show this ingredient may be an effective wrinkle reducer as it can deeply penetrate into skin. It has also been show to help with wound healing.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolChances 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 cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasnāt been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium 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 TaurateWater. 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
