What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycol Stearate
EmollientAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Lactate
BufferingMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Lauric Acid
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Stearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Lactate, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Lauric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Stearic Acid
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantUrea
BufferingTrehalose
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningTriacetin
AntimicrobialMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Allantoin, Sodium PCA, Urea, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-51, Triacetin, Myristyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, CI 17200, CI 15985, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPanthenol 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 ChlorideSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium 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 TaurateWater. 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