Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash Original Versus Trader Joe's Spa Face Wash With Tea Tree Oil
Updated on July 21, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens, fragrances and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash Original 13 ingredients
Trader Joe's Spa Face Wash With Tea Tree Oil 13 ingredients
What's inside
What's inside
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash Original 13 ingredients
Trader Joe's Spa Face Wash With Tea Tree Oil 13 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrastis Canadensis Root Extract
MaskingHedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Callitris Intratropica Wood Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis Root Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Callitris Intratropica Wood Oil
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrastis Canadensis Extract
MaskingHedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Orange Roughy Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Matricaria Recutita Flower Oil
Perfuming
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Callitris Intratropica Wood Oil
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Orange Roughy Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Matricaria Recutita Flower Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Callitris Intratropica Wood Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil comes from the common Marigold plant. Marigolds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
This is due to their flavonoid content.
Flavonoids are a group of substances found naturally in plants. They possess antioxidant and inflammation properties.
This ingredient is skin soothing and helps reduce inflammation. Emerging studies show it inhibits NO (nitric oxide) production to reduce inflammation. NO acts as a signaling molecule that can tell the skin to become inflammed. By regulating NO, marigold can effectively soothe the skin.
A study from 2008 found marigold to have potential anti-fungal properties against 23 types of fungus found on the human body. Please note - fungal acne comes from a yeast (not a fungus).
Marigolds have been used in traditional medicine throughout Asia and Europe.
Learn more about Calendula Officinalis Flower OilCallitris Intratropica Wood Oil is an oil.
Cymbopogon Martini Oil is the volatile oil expressed from the herb palmarosa, Cymbopogon martini, Gramineae
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract is derived from a type of brown algae.
Algae is an informal term for a group of aquatic organisms that can photosynthesize. It is estimated there are at least 30,000 types of Algae.
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract is also rich in sodium, potassium, and amino acids.
Many different types of algae have different benefits.
Learn more about Fucus Vesiculosus ExtractGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinWe don't have a description for Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract yet.
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilThis tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Tea Tree plant. Tea tree oil has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
According to the book Journal of Profiles of Drug Substances, tea tree helps in reducing acne-causing bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes. This is due to the Terpinen components of tea tree oil.
Tea tree may cause sensitivity and irritation for some people. This oil naturally contains fragrance such as linalool and limonene.
However, research shows irritation usually occurs when using pure tea tree oil and not in cosmetic products.
Tea tree oil was found to help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis in one study.
Tea tree oil is toxic when ingested. Another study showed it to caused damage to the nervous system of dogs and cats when applied to their skin or given orally.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilIngredient Ratings
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When to use
Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash Original 13 ingredients
Trader Joe's Spa Face Wash With Tea Tree Oil 13 ingredients
