What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamide DEA
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningSodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methylalanine
Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingHuman Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Cell Exosomes
Skin ConditioningPEG-3 Tallow Propylenedimonium Dimethosulfate
Sodium Tosyl Valinate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-64
Polyquaternium-61
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
CleansingArginine
MaskingPyrrolidinyl Diaminopyrimidine Oxide
Trifolium Pratense Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingAzelaic Acid
BufferingSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid/Polyglutamic Acid Crosspolymer
AntioxidantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCreatine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDextran
Polyquaternium-10
Polyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate
MoisturisingCeteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCocamide Methyl Mea
BHT
AntioxidantPentasodium Pentetate
Malic Acid
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate, Sodium Lauroyl Methylalanine, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Cocamide Mea, Human Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Cell Exosomes, PEG-3 Tallow Propylenedimonium Dimethosulfate, Sodium Tosyl Valinate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Polyquaternium-64, Polyquaternium-61, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Arginine, Pyrrolidinyl Diaminopyrimidine Oxide, Trifolium Pratense Extract, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Azelaic Acid, Soluble Proteoglycan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid/Polyglutamic Acid Crosspolymer, Phytosphingosine, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Creatine, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dextran, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-47, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, PCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate, Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Cocamide Methyl Mea, BHT, Pentasodium Pentetate, Malic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingTea-Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Aspartate
CleansingSorbeth-40 Tetraoleate
EmulsifyingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingIsostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
CleansingMaleic Acid
BufferingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ceramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientPotassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin ConditioningCocoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
CleansingKeratin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-53
Polyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-10
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantIsostearic Acid
CleansingQuaternium-18
Quaternium-33
Cholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate, Sorbeth-40 Tetraoleate, Cocamide Mea, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Maleic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Keratin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Polyquaternium-53, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, Diisostearyl Malate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Isostearic Acid, Quaternium-18, Quaternium-33, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APCeramide EOP is formally known as Ceramide 1.
It is naturally found in skin and part of the intercellular "mortar" holding everything together in your outermost layer.
EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.
What makes Ceramide EOP special is its ultra-long fatty acid chain; this unique structure allows it to bridge the lipid layers in your skin barrier to prevent water loss (something no other ceramide can do).
Low levels of Ceramide EOP have been found in people with eczema and psoriasis.
Using it together with other ceramides, cholesterol, and linoleic acid have been shown to meaningfully improve hydration and reduce water loss.
In one clinical study, a regimen using Ceramide EOP, NP, and AP led to significant symptom improvements in patients with eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin in just 4 weeks.
You'll usually see concentrations between 0.1-0.5% in formulations. Overall, this is a well-tolerated and safe ingredient for cosmetic use.
Learn more about Ceramide EOPCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolThis ingredient is made by combining the fatty acids from coconut oil with monoethanolamine. It is an emulsifier that helps boost foam, thicken texture, and help keep ingredients together in a formula.
We don't have a description for Cocamide Methyl Mea yet.
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 BetaineDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinThis form of hyaluronic acid is produced through fermentation.
According to a manufacturer, it has a positive charge by ionic binding to help moisturize and give hair a smooth feel. This is why you'll find this ingredient in shampoos and body washes.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Phytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin as a building block for ceramides.. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine contributes to your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Fun fact: Phytosphingosine is abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosinePolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen can help to reduce the effects of aging.
Chances 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 Lauroyl Lactylate is the lauric acid sodium salt of lactyl lactate.
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate is an emulsifier and surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. They do this by preventing ingredients from separating, such as oils and water which do not mix naturally. Surfactants reduce surface tension, making it easier to rinse pollutants off skin.
Due to its relation to lauric acid, it may provide antimicrobial benefits.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl LactylateWe don't have a description for Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate yet.
Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum