This mild gel cleanser is mild enough to cleanse without leaving skin feeling tight or stripped.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 1.8%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol Caprylate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ketoconazole
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Adiantum Capillus-Veneris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-7
Amylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolydextrose
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Salicylic Acid 1.8%, Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Propanediol Caprylate, Polysorbate 80, Niacinamide, Ketoconazole, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Adiantum Capillus-Veneris Leaf Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyquaternium-7, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Polydextrose, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.
It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.
Phenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
