What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentMannitol
HumectantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
BufferingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingTartaric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium PCA, Potassium Cocoate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, DMDM Hydantoin, Gluconolactone, Zea Mays Starch, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Mica, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Malic Acid, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Tartaric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, CI 77891, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-8 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingMannitol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSucrose
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingEuglena Gracilis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCI 74260
Cosmetic ColorantCI 11710
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-8 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Mannitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sucrose, Zea Mays Starch, Niacinamide, Euglena Gracilis Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, CI 74260, CI 11710
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinMannitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a humectant and moisturizes the skin. In vitro (not tested on a living organism), mannitol displays antioxidant properties.
When found in aqueous solutions, mannitol tends to become acidic. This is because it loses a hydrogen ion. This is why mannitol can often be found with pH adjusting ingredients, such as sodium bicarbonate.
Fun fact: Mannitol can be found in foods as a sweetener. It can be naturally found in mushrooms, algae, fruits, and veggies.
Learn more about MannitolMicrocrystalline Cellulose is another name for refined wood pulp. It is used as an emulsifier and mattifying ingredient. As an emulsifier, it helps keep ingredients together.
Phenoxyethanol 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 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 HydroxideWater. 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 WaterZea Mays Starch is starch made from corn. You might know this as cornstarch . It is used to thicken a product. It can replace talc as an absorbent.
The pH of cornstarch is 5.92.
Cornstarch is a common food ingredient used to thicken soups or to make corn syrup.
Learn more about Zea Mays Starch