What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate
Castoryl Maleate
Skin ConditioningPEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cucumis Melo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Castoryl Maleate, PEG-150 Distearate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Niacinamide, Cucumis Melo Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Olivate
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientLecithin
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAcrylic Acid/Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonic Acid Copolymer
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Sorbitol, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sorbitan Olivate, Potassium Cocoate, Coconut Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Propanediol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Acrylic Acid/Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonic Acid Copolymer, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
