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 Conditioning(Eclipta Prostrata/Houttuynia Cordata) Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Garnet Powder
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Saururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningLauryl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Laureth Phosphate
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingFragaria Indica Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, (Eclipta Prostrata/Houttuynia Cordata) Leaf Extract, Pinus Pinaster Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Faex Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Garnet Powder, Glycerin, Betaine, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Laureth Phosphate, Coco-Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Tromethamine, Malt Extract, Fragaria Indica Extract
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
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLauryl Hydroxysultaine is a mild surfactant or cleansing ingredient that helps lift away dirt/oil, boost foam, and thicken the formula. It plays nicely with other surfactants and stays stable across a wide pH range.
We don't have a description for Potassium Laureth Phosphate yet.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
