What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Gluconate
ChelatingCitric Acid
Buffering
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Panthenyl Hydroxypropyl Steardimonium Chloride
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Panthenol, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Panthenyl Hydroxypropyl Steardimonium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycol Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Liquid Endosperm
Hydrolyzed Algin
Maris Aqua
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Gluconate
ChelatingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLinalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide Mipa, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycol Stearate, Sodium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Arginine Hcl, Phosphatidylcholine, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera Liquid Endosperm, Hydrolyzed Algin, Maris Aqua, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool, Limonene, Parfum, CI 42090, CI 60730, CI 19140
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.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
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 BetaineSodium 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 Gluconate is the sodium salt of gluconic acid. In skincare, its main job is as a chelator.
Chelators grab onto stray metal ions like iron and copper that sneak in through water, raw materials, or manufacturing equipment. This stops them from triggering reactions that cause oils to go rancid, formulas to change color, and actives like vitamin C to fall apart.
This ingredient is often chosen as a biodegradable, gentler-sounding alternative to EDTA. It also pulls double duty as a mild humectant and pH buffer.
Typical use levels sit around 0.1-1% and supplier documents list up to 10% as an acceptable ceiling. Industry data found this ingredient family is mostly used well below 1% in leave on products.
Allergy risk is very low; animal testing has found it to be non-irritating to skin and eyes, mutagenicity assays came back negative, and there are no published reports of allergic contact dermatitis to it.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateWater. 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
