What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingAroma
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Arginine
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Capsanthin/Capsorubin
Cosmetic ColorantJuniperus Communis Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingJania Rubens Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Angelica Archangelica Root Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Betula Alba Leaf Extract
AstringentCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Water, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Coco-Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Aroma, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Arginine, Linalool, Alcohol, Caffeine, Capsanthin/Capsorubin, Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Carrageenan, Jania Rubens Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Betula Alba Leaf Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningJuglans Regia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Acetyl Cedrene
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Water, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Parfum, Citric Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Benzoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Juglans Regia Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Linalool, Acetyl Cedrene, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric 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.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinLauryl Glucoside sugar- and lipid-based cleansing agent. It is created from glucose and lauryl alcohol.
This ingredient is a surfactant, making it easier to rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants away.
A British study found lauryl glucoside to cause skin sensitivity for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Other names for this ingredient include "Lauryl Polyglucose", "Lauryl glycoside", and "D-Glucopyranoside".
Learn more about Lauryl GlucosideLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolWater. 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
