What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCocamide Methyl Mea
SurfactantMannitol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMenthol
MaskingPEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberTetrasodium EDTA
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentZinc Lactate
Mandelic Acid
AntimicrobialHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingArginine
MaskingPerfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant4-Butylresorcinol
AntioxidantDextrin
AbsorbentSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientLecithin
EmollientGlycosphingolipids
EmollientSucrose Palmitate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 12490
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Polysorbate 20, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Mannitol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Menthol, PEG-14m, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Zinc Lactate, Mandelic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Salicylic Acid, Arginine, Perfluorodecalin, Butylene Glycol, 4-Butylresorcinol, Dextrin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lecithin, Glycosphingolipids, Sucrose Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 12490
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
SmoothingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polyacrylate-13, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Allantoin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Bisabolol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Ceramide NP, Lactobacillus, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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