What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Avena Sativa Straw Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingGlucose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Laureth-10
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyquaternium-39
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Sodium Chloride, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Avena Sativa Straw Extract, Benzoic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Cocamide Mea, Disodium EDTA, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Glucose, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Lactic Acid, Laureth-10, Panthenol, Pantolactone, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-39, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCI 16035
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Chlorphenesin, Lactic Acid, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, CI 19140, Decylene Glycol, CI 16035, 1,2-Hexanediol
Reviews
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 BetaineDisodium 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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPeg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate is created from polyethylene glycol and fatty acids from coconut oil.
It is a synthetic polymer with emulsifying and cleansing properties.
As an emulsifier, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate prevents ingredients such as oils and water from separating. It also helps rinse away oils, dirt, and pollutants from skin.
Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate may not be fungal acne safe. It can also dry out skin.
Learn more about PEG-7 Glyceryl CocoatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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
