What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-6 Cocamide
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Succinoglycan
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Urea
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, PEG-6 Cocamide, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Succinoglycan, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Urea, Allantoin, Polyquaternium-51, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Glyceryl Oleate, Coconut Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium PCA, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Amodimethicone
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-10
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
CI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantSalicylic Acid
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
Antioxidant
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingLinalool
Perfuming
Arginine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Coumarin
Perfuming
Sodium Acetate
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, Glycol Distearate, Cocamide Mipa, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Parfum, Amodimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, CI 60730, Salicylic Acid, Carbomer, BHT, Trideceth-6, Linalool, Arginine, Glutamic Acid, Serine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cetrimonium Chloride, Coumarin, Sodium Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
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 AcidSodium 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 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
