What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Mentha Piperita American Herb Oil
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Herb Oil
Perfuming
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Salicylic Acid, Mentha Piperita American Herb Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Herb Oil, PEG-150 Distearate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTromethamine
BufferingTetradecene
EmollientPotassium Benzoate
Preservative
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hexadecene
SolventLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Polyquaternium-10
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
Perfuming
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantArtemisia Princeps Leaf Water
MaskingHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Apium Graveolens Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentCucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactuca Scariola Sativa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Coco-Betaine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tromethamine, Tetradecene, Potassium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Hexadecene, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Coco-Glucoside, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitol, Polyquaternium-10, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Panthenol, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Apium Graveolens Extract, Asparagus Officinalis Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Lactuca Scariola Sativa Leaf Extract, Allantoin
Reviews
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
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 GlycerinSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateWater. 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
