What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyacrylate-33
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPolyquaternium-10
Azelaic Acid
BufferingPhytic Acid
Glutathione
Alpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantKojic Acid
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Niacinamide, Polyacrylate-33, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Polyquaternium-10, Azelaic Acid, Phytic Acid, Glutathione, Alpha-Arbutin, Kojic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phospholipids, Retinol, Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingSodium Trideceth Sulfate
CleansingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientPolyquaternium-10
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
DMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycol Distearate, Polyquaternium-10, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Cocamide Mea, Disodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyquaternium-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-10Water. 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