What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Lauryl Betaine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Citrate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sarcosine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Sulfite
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingSorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrastis Canadensis Extract
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil
Skin Protecting
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Seed Extract
Masking
Capsaicin
Masking
Hesperidin
EmollientCitrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Jasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sclerotium Gum, Polysorbate 20, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Seed Extract, Capsaicin, Hesperidin, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
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 20Water. 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
