What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Echinacea Purpurea Extract 39.2%
MoisturisingWater
Skin ConditioningDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprylate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAmyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract
MaskingDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEchinacea Purpurea Extract 39.2%, Water, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coco-Glucoside, Dipropylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Disodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Benzoate, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Hexylene Glycol, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract, Dipotassium Phosphate, Acetyl Glutamine, Cellulose Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingOzothamnus Diosmifolius Extract
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOxygen
Skin ConditioningPhlox Drummondii Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycol
HumectantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coco-Betaine, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycine Soja Extract, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Ozothamnus Diosmifolius Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Oxygen, Phlox Drummondii Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octanediol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Gluconolactone, Maltodextrin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Parfum
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 GlycolCapryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidCitric 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 AcidCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate is a surfactant and helps cleanse skin. It is created from the fatty acids of coconut oil.
Surfactants help rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants easily from skin. It has a faint fruit-like scent.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinChances 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 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
