What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPetrolatum
EmollientLauric Acid
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientUrea
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
AbrasiveSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Petrolatum, Lauric Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Glycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Urea, Stearic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Hyaluronic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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