What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-8
HumectantMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLauric Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sorbitol
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Polyquaternium-39
Disodium EDTA
Oryza Sativa Germ Oil
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Kaolin
Abrasive
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Betaine
Humectant
Silk Powder
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Water, Stearic Acid, PEG-8, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Dipropylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sorbitol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Parfum, Polyquaternium-39, Disodium EDTA, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Kaolin, Sodium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Betaine, Silk Powder, Tocopherol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Polyquaternium-39
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Propanediol
Solvent
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Sucrose Cocoate, Inulin, Glycolipids, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Polyquaternium-39, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Propanediol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Benzoate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerGlycerin (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 AcidMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidWe don't have a description for Polyquaternium-39 yet.
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 BenzoateThis gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
According to the manufacturer, it is soluble in water and has resistance to hard water, acid, and alkali.
Due to its coconut base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateStearic 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
