What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingTea-Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingPropanediol
SolventSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamide DEA
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Sprout
HumectantAlgae Extract
EmollientPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningBoswellia Serrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMel Extract
MoisturisingOligopeptide-10
AntimicrobialPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Piroctone Olamine
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Propylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Tea-Lauryl Sulfate, Propanediol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamide DEA, Aloe Barbadensis Sprout, Algae Extract, Propolis Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Mel Extract, Oligopeptide-10, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Gluconolactone, Disodium EDTA, Piroctone Olamine, Sodium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingChlorophyllin-Copper Complex
AntioxidantPhytonadione Epoxide
AstringentTeprenone
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Glucoside, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Phytonadione Epoxide, Teprenone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Bicarbonate, Limonene
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 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 BetaineDecyl Glucoside is a glucose-based surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Surfactants help clean the skin by trapping oil, sebum, and dirt to be washed away. As an emulsion stabilizer, it stabilizes the ingredients in a product by preventing them from separating.
This ingredient is biodegradable and non-toxic. This ingredient is commonly found in baby shampoos.
Decyl Glucoside is sometimes used to stabilize the UV filter Tinosorb.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosidePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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