What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Dextrin
AbsorbentHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Malt Extract
Skin Protecting1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Mannitol
Humectant
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Sh-Decapeptide-5 Sp
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Lauric Acid, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Aspartic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Dextrin, Hexylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Malt Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Mannitol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Sh-Decapeptide-5 Sp, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
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 AcidLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidLauryl Hydroxysultaine is a mild surfactant or cleansing ingredient that helps lift away dirt/oil, boost foam, and thicken the formula. It plays nicely with other surfactants and stays stable across a wide pH range.
Water. 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
