Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser Versus Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Low pH Gel Cleanser
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Pantolactone, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Glycol
SolventCitric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Agrimonia Eupatoria Extract
AstringentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycine
Buffering
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSaponaria Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPlatycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract
Antioxidant
Poria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Angelica Gigas Extract
Skin ConditioningCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Potassium Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Benzyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Agrimonia Eupatoria Extract, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Glycine, Dipropylene Glycol, Saponaria Officinalis Extract, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract, Aspartic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Asiaticoside, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Pentylene Glycol, Phosphatidylcholine, Platycodon Grandiflorus Root Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Histidine, Madecassoside, Cysteine, Methionine, Polygonatum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolChances 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
