What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Urea
Buffering
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
MaskingArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCarnitine
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glycine
Buffering
Hydrogenated Coconut Acid
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Pantolactone
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Urea, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Panthenol, Alanine, Arginine Hcl, Carnitine, Citric Acid, Glycine, Hydrogenated Coconut Acid, Lactic Acid, Pantolactone, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Methyl Isethionate
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Diglycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingTrehalose
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polyquaternium-10
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Diglycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Trehalose, Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate
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 AcidCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineGlycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideThis gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
According to the manufacturer, it is soluble in water and has resistance to hard water, acid, and alkali.
Due to its coconut base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
