What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sea Water
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Xylityl Sesquicaprylate
Antimicrobial
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Sea Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Zinc PCA, Sodium PCA, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Anhydroxylitol, Glyceryl Oleate, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningBentonite
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Menthol
Masking
Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning
Shea Butteramidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Bentonite, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Kaolin, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Menthol, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Shea Butteramidopropyl Betaine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Propanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Limonene, CI 77891, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a mild surfactant made by sticking glucose onto a blend of fatty acids.
It does two jobs because it has a sugar head that loves water and a fatty tail that loves oil:
Typical use levels range from 10-20% in cleansers and 15-30% in shower products.
Once on your skin, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down into glucose and the parent fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is considered fungal acne safe because its fatty alcohol portion sits outside the Malassezia yeast's metabolization range.
Learn more about Caprylyl/Capryl GlucosideCitric 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.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Tea Tree plant. Tea tree oil has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
According to the book Journal of Profiles of Drug Substances, tea tree helps in reducing acne-causing bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes. This is due to the Terpinen components of tea tree oil.
Tea tree may cause sensitivity and irritation for some people. This oil naturally contains fragrance such as linalool and limonene.
However, research shows irritation usually occurs when using pure tea tree oil and not in cosmetic products.
Tea tree oil was found to help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis in one study.
Tea tree oil is toxic when ingested. Another study showed it to caused damage to the nervous system of dogs and cats when applied to their skin or given orally.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolWe don't have a description for Salix Nigra Bark Extract yet.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
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
