What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingBetaine
Humectant
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAcrylates Copolymer
Salicylic Acid, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Betaine, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Saccharide Isomerate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Acrylates Copolymer
Benzoyl Peroxide 5%
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Xylitol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzoyl Peroxide 5%, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Acetyl Glucosamine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Xylitol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Propanediol, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl 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.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
