What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Polyquaternium-7
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-7, Propylene Glycol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Lauryl Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Polyquaternium-7
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Chloride
MaskingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Medica Peel Oil
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Glyoxal
Antimicrobial
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Mannitol
Humectant
Retinyl Propionate
Skin Conditioning
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingBetaine
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium PCA
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Algin
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PCA
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Collagen
Moisturising
Glycine
Buffering
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Myristic Acid, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Polyquaternium-7, Phenoxyethanol, Lauric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Chlorphenesin, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Citrus Medica Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyoxal, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Mannitol, Retinyl Propionate, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium PCA, Hydrolyzed Algin, Sodium Lactate, Pentylene Glycol, PCA, Serine, Alanine, Collagen, Glycine, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glutamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Arginine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Proline, Ceramide EOP
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCocamidopropyl 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is a semi-synthetic polymer created from cellulose. In case you need a refresher, cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls.
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose has many uses:
- emulsifier
- create a gel-like texture
- boost foam
Lauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidMyristic Acid, aka tetradecanoic acid, is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in coconut oil and palm oil.
In skincare, it is an:
Research indicates that this ingredient posts a low risk of irritation and sensitization.
Since myristic acid is a C14 fatty acid, it falls within the range that Malassezia can metabolize, and therefore not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate is a cleansing agent. It can be naturally derived or synthetically-created.
As a surfactant, it helps clean your skin by gathering dirt, oil, and other pollutants to be rinsed away more easily.
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
