What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSqualane
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingOleic Acid
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Lecithin
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Polysorbate 20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Glycerin, Beta-Sitosterol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Squalane, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Behenate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Oleic Acid, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingPEG-7
HumectantGlyceryl Cocoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate
EmulsifyingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingArginine
MaskingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantChlorhexidine
AntimicrobialChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Potassium Cocoate, PEG-7, Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Retinol, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Arginine, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Chlorhexidine, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, 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.
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 GlycolCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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