What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium PCA
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingBetaine
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingPCA
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSerine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGlutamic Acid
HumectantLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Arginine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium PCA, PEG-8, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Panthenol, Sodium Chloride, Chlorphenesin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Betaine
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingBetaine
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium PCA
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativePrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Allantoin, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium PCA, Propylene Glycol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.
This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.
Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.
Another name for betaine is trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolPropylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolChances 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.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water