What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Pyrithione 1%
AntiseborrhoeicWater
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientAmodimethicone
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-10
Potato Starch Modified
Citric Acid
BufferingCocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Betaine
CleansingBenzoic Acid
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialSodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningZinc Pyrithione 1%, Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Amodimethicone, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Polyquaternium-10, Potato Starch Modified, Citric Acid, Cocamide Mipa, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Carbomer, Coco-Betaine, Benzoic Acid, Niacinamide, Trideceth-6, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Salicylic Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide NP, Triethyl Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingHydroxypropyl Oxidized Starch Pg-Trimonium Chloride
HumectantPiroctone Olamine
PreservativeGlycol Distearate
EmollientCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingLaureth-4
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Hydroxypropyl Oxidized Starch Pg-Trimonium Chloride, Piroctone Olamine, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Laureth-4, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
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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 AcidGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearatePhenoxyethanol 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 BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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