What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Behenic Acid
CleansingLauric Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveRubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil
AntioxidantLuffa Cylindrica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingBuddleja Davidii Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Archangelica Root Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Powder
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMenthone Glycerin Acetal
RefreshingDisodium EDTA
Ascorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantRetinol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientPEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPerfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Phosphate
BufferingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyaminopropyl Biguanide
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Behenic Acid, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Stearic Acid, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil, Luffa Cylindrica Seed Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Laminaria Digitata Powder, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Disodium EDTA, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, Pentylene Glycol, Perfluorodecalin, Glycosphingolipids, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Phosphate, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, BHT, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Limonene, Citronellol, Eugenol, Parfum, CI 42090, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCitrus Limon Fruit Oil
AstringentSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingLauric Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantSalix Alba Bark Water
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glycol Distearate
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Myristic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Ethyl Hexanediol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Lauric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Salix Alba Bark Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Glycol Distearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citric Acid
Reviews
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
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolDisodium 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 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 AcidPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideThis 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