What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
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Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Aspartate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Pentasodium Triphosphate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPropanediol
SolventMonarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCorchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate, Glycerin, Panthenol, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Trisodium EDTA, Pentasodium Triphosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Propanediol, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Beta-Glucan, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Morinda Citrifolia Extract 35.511%
AstringentWater
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Lauramide DEA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingButeth-3
SolventPiroctone Olamine
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract
AstringentPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTributyl Citrate
SolventTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantMorinda Citrifolia Extract 35.511%, Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauramide DEA, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Allantoin, Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Buteth-3, Piroctone Olamine, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Tributyl Citrate, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Dextrin, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
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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 AcidGlycerin (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 PanthenolSodium 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 BenzoateChances 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