What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methylalanine
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide DEA
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Fullerenes
AntimicrobialFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Platinum
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-61
Skin ConditioningLanolin Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Chitosan
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Quaternium-33
Distearyldimonium Chloride
PCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate
Moisturising
Cholesterol
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-10
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PPG-7
Skin ConditioningTea-Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methylalanine, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Glycerin, Fullerenes, Ferulic Acid, Niacinamide, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Platinum, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Polyquaternium-61, Lanolin Acid, Hydroxypropyl Chitosan, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Quaternium-33, Distearyldimonium Chloride, PCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate, Cholesterol, Cellulose Gum, Pvp, Polyquaternium-10, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Alcohol Denat., PPG-7, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 60730, CI 45410, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingPPG-2 Cocamide
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Polyquaternium-61
Skin ConditioningSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSodium PCA
Humectant
Polyquaternium-10
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, PPG-2 Cocamide, Ceramide Ng, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine, Polyquaternium-61, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium PCA, Polyquaternium-10, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCeramide NG is a type of Ceramide. The NG stands for a sphinganine base.
Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.
Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.
If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.
Read more about other common types of ceramides here:
Ceramide AP
Ceramide EOP
Ceramide NP
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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10We don't have a description for Polyquaternium-61 yet.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
