What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Inulin, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Parfum, Arginine, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycereth-26
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol
EmulsifyingDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Acrylates Copolymer
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Sorbic Acid, Lactic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Citrate, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Lactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidLauryl Glucoside sugar- and lipid-based cleansing agent. It is created from glucose and lauryl alcohol.
This ingredient is a surfactant, making it easier to rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants away.
A British study found lauryl glucoside to cause skin sensitivity for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Other names for this ingredient include "Lauryl Polyglucose", "Lauryl glycoside", and "D-Glucopyranoside".
Learn more about Lauryl GlucosideWe don't have a description for Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate yet.
Sorbic Acid is a preservative that stops your product from spoiling by stopping microbes from growing.
As a preservative, it's kind of a specialist: it has a broad spectrum of activity against yeast and molds but is weaker against bacteria. That's why it's often paired with another preservative to cover that gap.
This ingredient is also pretty picky about pH; it performs best at pH 6.5 or below.
At the right pH level, sorbic acid is "active" and can slip through the outer wall of a microbe. Once inside, it turns the cell's interior more acidic to shut down the microbe from the inside.
The EU caps this ingredient at 0.6% while the CIR has concluded it's safe at concentrations up to 1%. It's most often used around 0.05-0.2% in cosmetics.
Though this ingredient is considered low-sensitizing and well-tolerated, a very small number of people may have a contact allergy to it. Be sure to patch test if you have a history of allergies towards preservatives.
Learn more about Sorbic AcidWater. 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
