What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocos Nucifera Water, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Sodium PCA, Manganese PCA, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium PCA, Zinc PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-150 Distearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Myristate
EmulsifyingPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingPotassium Palmitate
EmulsifyingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Potassium Chloride
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Surfactant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
PEG-75
HumectantPEG-9m
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-20m
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-50
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPhosphoric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Methylparaben
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Potassium Myristate, Potassium Laurate, Potassium Palmitate, Glycol Distearate, Potassium Chloride, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-75, PEG-9m, PEG-20m, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-50, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl 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 BetainePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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
