Clinelle Pureswiss Hydracalm Lotion Versus Simple Skincare Water Boost Micellar Cleansing Facial Gel Wash
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientCarrageenan
O-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Algin
Citronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingMaris Aqua
HumectantCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingTilia Cordata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Carrageenan, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Hydrolyzed Algin, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Maris Aqua, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Citric Acid, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Glycerin
HumectantHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativePantolactone
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Chloride
Saccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Pantolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Chloride, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate
Reviews
Alternatives
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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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