What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
AstringentCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberCitric Acid
BufferingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc PCA
HumectantWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Benzophenone-4, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Pantolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Zinc PCA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betainamide Mea Chloride
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 80, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Methylpropanediol, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Cocamidopropyl Betainamide Mea Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, CI 19140, CI 15985
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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateWater. 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