What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate
CleansingLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamide Methyl Mea
SurfactantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSoluble Collagen
HumectantCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningKeratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantHydrolyzed Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed
HumectantGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingJojoba Oil Glycereth-8 Esters
EmollientArginine
MaskingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingDistearyldimonium Chloride
Quaternium-33
Lauramidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingPolyquaternium-10
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingTea-Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingMyristyl Betaine
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterSodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberSodium Benzoate
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventDiethyl Sebacate
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-7
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Soluble Collagen, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed, Gamma-Docosalactone, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Jojoba Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Arginine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Quaternium-33, Lauramidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Cocamide Mea, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Myristyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Hydroxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Sodium Benzoate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Diethyl Sebacate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, PPG-7
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
SurfactantBHT
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
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineButylene 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 GlycolCeramide 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 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 BetaineHydrolyzed Keratin is derived from keratin. Keratin is a large protein that is naturally found in our hair and skin.
Studies show keratin is able to seal broken hair cuticles, helping to prevent split ends and breakage.
As a humectant, hydrolyzed keratin helps draw moisture from the air to your hair and skin. This helps keep your skin and hair hydrated.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed KeratinWe don't have a description for Lauramidopropyl Betaine yet.
Panthenol 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 PanthenolParfum 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.
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-10Sodium 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 BenzoateChances 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 ChlorideWe 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 Water