What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Surfactant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Keratin
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
PPG-7
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Menthol
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyquaternium-10
Polyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningWater, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Glycerin, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Panthenol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Soluble Collagen, Squalane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Keratin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Arginine, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, PPG-7, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Menthol, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-47
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPropyltrimoniumchloride Acrylamide/Dimethylacrylamide Copolymer
Camellia Seed Oil
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSqualane
Emollient
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
Humectant
PEG-2 Laurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Sulfate
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantLauric Acid
Cleansing
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Aroma
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Propyltrimoniumchloride Acrylamide/Dimethylacrylamide Copolymer, Camellia Seed Oil, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Squalane, Royal Jelly Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Sorbitol, PEG-2 Laurate, Sodium Sulfate, Dipropylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Dimethiconol, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Aroma, CI 19140, CI 15985
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 BenzoateSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneWater. 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
