What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMenthol
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingLeptospermum Petersonii Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Gluconate, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Allantoin, Menthol, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Leptospermum Petersonii Oil, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, CI 19140, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCoco-Betaine
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTromethamine
BufferingTetradecene
EmollientPotassium Benzoate
PreservativeSalicylic Acid
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingHexadecene
SolventLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitol
HumectantPolyquaternium-10
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantArtemisia Princeps Leaf Water
MaskingHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantApium Graveolens Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentCucumis Sativus Extract
Skin ConditioningLactuca Scariola Sativa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Coco-Betaine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tromethamine, Tetradecene, Potassium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Hexadecene, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Coco-Glucoside, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitol, Polyquaternium-10, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Panthenol, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Apium Graveolens Extract, Asparagus Officinalis Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Lactuca Scariola Sativa Leaf Extract, Allantoin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCitric 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 AcidCoco-Betaine is the natural version of Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is often derived from coconuts.
Coco-Betaine is a surfactant, meaning it helps remove dirt and oil from the skin.
Coco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 PanthenolSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidChances 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