What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycol Distearate
EmollientLaureth-4
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingFormic Acid
PreservativeWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, PEG-150 Distearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-4, Allantoin, Sodium PCA, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Formic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientLauric Acid
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSaponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
C12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantPonceau Sx
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Lauric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Mea, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, C12-13 Pareth-3, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, CI 42090, CI 19140, Ponceau Sx, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal
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 GlycerinGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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