What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Kernel Meal
Abrasive
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-10
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Xylityl Sesquicaprylate
Antimicrobial
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Avena Sativa Kernel Meal, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, PEG-14m, Polyquaternium-10, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide
EmollientCapryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingXylitol
Humectant
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Astrocaryum Murumuruate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Xylityl Phosphate
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantBarosma Betulina Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingAmyl Salicylate
Perfuming
3-Hexenol
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Decyl Glucoside, Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide, Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Squalane, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Xylitol, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Astrocaryum Murumuruate, Niacinamide, Gluconolactone, Xylityl Phosphate, Sclerotium Gum, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Ethyl Linoleate, Ethyl Oleate, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Maltodextrin, Calcium Gluconate, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Amyl Salicylate, 3-Hexenol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
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 AcidDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
