What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Olivoyl PCA
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentRosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Lauryl Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Gluconolactone, Parfum, Potassium Olivoyl PCA, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Coco-Glucoside Tartrate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Prunus Serotina Bark Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingYucca Schidigera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLitchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
Astringent
Prunus Avium Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Cerasus Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Coco-Glucoside Tartrate, Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Prunus Serotina Bark Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Yucca Schidigera Root Extract, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Prunus Avium Fruit Extract, Prunus Cerasus Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Alcohol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholCitric 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 AcidCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.
It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.
Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 comes from the pomegranate plant. It's rich in antioxidants (punicalagins, ellagic acid, and anthocyanins) that also give pomegranates their vivid color and reputation as a "superfruit".
Research on skin cells, reconstructed skin models, and in small human trials is pretty encouraging, this extract:
Ellagic acid has also been shown to slow the enzyme that makes pigment so it can help even out dark spots and uneven skin tone over time.
A 2025 study where 60 women used either a pomegranate extract or a placebo backed this up; the pomegranate group had less redness, less extra pigment, and better-hydrated skin after UV exposure. Needless to say, this ingredient should not be replacing your sunscreen.
Learn more about Punica Granatum ExtractThis gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
According to the manufacturer, it is soluble in water and has resistance to hard water, acid, and alkali.
Due to its coconut base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateWater. 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
