What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Tussilago Farfara Leaf Extract
AstringentCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-150
HumectantPotassium Undecylenoyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Emulsion StabilisingPiroctone Olamine
Preservative
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Disodium Undecylenamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLaureth-2
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberCI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Tussilago Farfara Leaf Extract, Coco-Betaine, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, PEG-150, Potassium Undecylenoyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Piroctone Olamine, Salicylic Acid, Disodium Undecylenamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate, Laureth-2, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, CI 47005, CI 14700, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPiroctone Olamine
Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Silt
AbsorbentWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Piroctone Olamine, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Maris Sal, Potassium Sorbate, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Limonene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Lactic Acid, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Silt
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 AcidPiroctone Olamine targets Malassezia, the fungus responsible for dandruff, which is why you'll find it in many anti-dandruff shampoos.
It's also water-soluble, so it blends easily into these formulas.
Potassium 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 BenzoateChances 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 ChlorideSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateWater. 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
