What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Keratin
Skin ConditioningTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingRice Oil Glycereth-8 Esters
CleansingSodium Phytate
Cocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Coconut Acid
EmollientSodium Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantIsopropanolamine
BufferingCoconut Acid
CleansingDextran
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantGlycine
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Lauryl Glucoside, Acrylates Copolymer, Keratin, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Rice Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Sodium Phytate, Cocamide Mipa, Polysorbate 20, Hydrogenated Coconut Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Isopropanolamine, Coconut Acid, Dextran, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Glycine, Gluconolactone, Zinc Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Peptide
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate-33
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Phytate
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingNigella Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Polysorbate 80, Polyacrylate-33, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Phytate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Caffeine, Biotin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tromethamine, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Urtica Dioica Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChloridePhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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