What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Coceth Sulfate
Cleansing
Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-5 Ethylhexanoate
EmulsifyingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Zinc Coceth Sulfate, Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol, Glycerin, Lauryl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 20, Trideceth-9, CI 42090, Citric Acid, Parfum, Glyceryl Laurate, Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-5 Ethylhexanoate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventIsohexadecane
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Glucose
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Fructose
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Glycine
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Glutamate
MaskingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalane
Emollient
Malic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Lysine
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Isohexadecane, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Trehalose, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Urea, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Papain, Retinol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glucose, Glycine Soja Oil, Sorbitol, Polysorbate 20, Fructose, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Maltodextrin, Glycine, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Glutamate, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalane, Malic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Lysine, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben
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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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
