What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate
CleansingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
PPG-7
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Palmitate
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingSodium Stearate
CleansingPEG-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
PEG-4 Dilaurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Palm Kernelate
CleansingOryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
PEG-4
HumectantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Alumina
Abrasive
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Lauric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, PPG-7, BHT, Coconut Acid, Sodium Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, PEG-4 Laurate, PEG-4 Dilaurate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, PEG-4, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Alumina
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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 HydroxideSodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant, cleansing agent, and foaming agent. You'll find it in a wide range of products from shampoos to face cleansers.
It:
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has assessed it in 1983, 2002, and 2005 and found it to be safe in formulations at low concentrations.
SLS is a well-documented skin irritant at higher concentrations or with prolonged exposure. It's actually the gold standard positive control used in dermatological patch testing, meaning doctors use it because they know it will cause a reaction in people.
In one large study of 43,000 patiences tested with 0.25% SLS, about 22% showed some level of reactivity. It increases transepidermal water loss that disrupts your outermost layer of skin.
Face cleansers often pair this ingredient with mild co-surfactants like Cocamidopropyl Betaine to buffer its harshness.
Just so you know, SLS does not trigger true allergic contact dermatitis. This just means it can irritate your skin but doesn't cause your immune system to develop a lasting allergy to it.
Despite internet rumors, SLS is not considered a carcinogen by any major regulatory body.
Learn more about Sodium Lauryl 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
