What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium PCA, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Potassium Cocoate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, DMDM Hydantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cystine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingPolyquaternium-6
Citric Acid
Buffering
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tetrasodium EDTA
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Decyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cystine, Glycine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Panthenol, Saccharide Isomerate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Phytosphingosine, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coconut Acid, Sodium Carbonate, Polyquaternium-6, Citric Acid, PEG-150 Distearate, Stearic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Benzophenone-4, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Cholesterol
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 CopolymerDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 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 ChlorideSodium 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 HydroxideSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
