What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitol
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Myristyl Betaine
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-6
Cetyl Betaine
CleansingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantCyclohexane
SolventDipropyl Pyridinedicarboxylate
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sericin
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycol Distearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Lauryl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Synthetic Wax, Myristyl Betaine, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-6, Cetyl Betaine, Isopropyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethoxydiglycol, Cyclohexane, Dipropyl Pyridinedicarboxylate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sericin, BHT, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Lactococcus/Hyaluronic Acid Ferment Filtrate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Lactococcus/Hyaluronic Acid Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Lauric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Benzoate, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
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 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidPolyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
