What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Lauric Acid
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantParfum
MaskingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Coco-Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Lauric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Parfum, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLauric Acid
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantParfum
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate
EmollientNymphaea Alba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCoco-Betaine
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyquaternium-22
Water, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Parfum, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate, Nymphaea Alba Root Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Coco-Betaine, Potassium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-22
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCoco-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.
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 GlycerinLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidParfum 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 ParfumSodium 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 BenzoateSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium 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