This salicylic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and unclog pores.
This phytic acid gel cleanser is formulated around Phytic Acid to exfoliate and smooth skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
SurfactantStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Myristic Acid
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingLauric Acid
CleansingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytic Acid
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingTrehalose
HumectantUrea
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Algin
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPullulan
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Myristic Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Lauric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Alpha-Arbutin, Niacinamide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Phytic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Trehalose, Urea, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Pullulan, Potassium Phosphate
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 AcidSodium 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 BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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