Acnes Whitening+ Cleanser Versus Acnes Gentle Wash
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingPEG-20m
Emulsion StabilisingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Glyceryl Stearate
EmulsifyingBHT
AntioxidantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-7
Disodium EDTA
O-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
MaskingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, PEG-20m, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium PCA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide, Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, PEG-60 Glyceryl Stearate, BHT, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Polyquaternium-7, Disodium EDTA, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Phenylpropanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Sorbitol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Gluconolactone
Skin ConditioningMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Acrylates Copolymer, Sorbitol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Taurine Cocoyl Methyltaurate, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Gluconolactone, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Cocoate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Butylene Glycol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Seed Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 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 EDTAParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water