What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingPolyquaternium-10
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcacia Concinna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBalanites Aegyptiaca Fruit Extract
Disodium EDTA
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Water, Isopentyldiol, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Citric Acid, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-10, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract, Balanites Aegyptiaca Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Gypsophila Paniculata Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Disodium Phosphate, Limonene
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 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.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
