What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCitrus Junos Fruit Extract 11%
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningTetradecene
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantHexadecene
SolventSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSuccinic Acid
BufferingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantBenzyl Glycol
SolventSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantRaspberry Ketone
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingThiamine Hcl
MaskingInositol
HumectantRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract 11%, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, Tetradecene, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Hexadecene, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Succinic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Panthenol, Mentha Viridis Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Benzyl Glycol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Biotin, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Raspberry Ketone, Tocopherol, Cyanocobalamin, Linoleic Acid, Thiamine Hcl, Inositol, Riboflavin, Beta-Carotene, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingPEG-100 Stearate
Arachidic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingCapric Acid
CleansingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDryopteris Filix-Mas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial4-Terpineol
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Water, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propolis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Arachidic Acid, Oleic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Malt Extract, Capric Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Alcohol Denat., Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dryopteris Filix-Mas Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, 4-Terpineol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
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
Caprylyl 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 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 AcidCocamidopropyl 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 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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