What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters
Emollient
Polyquaternium-7
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycol Stearate
Emollient
PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Polyquaternium-7, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycol Stearate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Panthenol, Xylitol, Sodium Phosphate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene, Polysorbate 80, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDimethiconol
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingTriethanolamine
BufferingParfum
Masking
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Climbazole
Antimicrobial
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingMenthol
Masking
Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLaureth-23
Cleansing
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dichlorobenzyl Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Surfactant
Disodium EDTA
Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMagnesium Nitrate
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Magnesium Chloride
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Dimethiconol, Salicylic Acid, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Triethanolamine, Parfum, Piroctone Olamine, Climbazole, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Glycine, Menthol, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Sodium Benzoate, DMDM Hydantoin, Panthenol, Dichlorobenzyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Disodium EDTA, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Magnesium Nitrate, Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol 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 PanthenolSodium 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
