What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Laureth Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Tromethamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Water, Potassium Laureth Phosphate, Glycerin, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Glutamic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Madecassoside
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingTea-Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Tuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
TonicMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMonarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract
AstringentHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicLinalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Betaine Salicylate, Saccharide Isomerate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Sodium Citrate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Mentha Suaveolens Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Linalool
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 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
