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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam versus La Mer The Cleansing Foam .

Last updated on October 23, 2023. Published on April 01, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or silicones

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens and fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Face Cleanser American Brand United States

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators (6)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Skin Texture
Dark Spots
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (4)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (5)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 1.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin 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 Glycerin

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 2.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
What it does: Cleansing, Foaming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

This 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 Taurate

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 11.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 6.

4
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 14.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 44.

5
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 15.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 48.

6
What it does: Emulsifying

Peg-3 Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 16.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 42.

7
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 25.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 38.

8
What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Lauric Acid is a fatty acid or lipid. About half of fatty acids in coconut oil is lauric acid.

This ingredient helps hydrate and sooth skin. As a humectant, it helps trap moisture. It also aids in cleaning and enhancing the texture of products.

Emerging studies show Lauric Acid to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The antimicrobial property helps strengthen the skin barrier by fighting off bad bacteria.

Lauric acid may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne, safe.

Learn more about Lauric Acid

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 26.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 8.

9
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.

Linalool has the same effect as Limonene when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

Linalool has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.

Learn more about Linalool

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 27.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 46.

10
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Polyquaternium-51 is a polymer salt. It helps hydrate the skin by creating a film on top. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 31.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 34.

11
What it does: Perfuming, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.

It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".

Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.

When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.

The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.

Learn more about Limonene

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 32.

La Mer The Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 47.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

20% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
54% are disliked or very disliked
17% have no rating yet
28% are loved or liked
6% have mixed ratings
35% are disliked or very disliked
31% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam 35 ingredients

Orchidée Impériale Rich Cleansing Foam hasn't been rated yet.
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La Mer The Cleansing Foam 54 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
TaylorForman_1's avatar

TaylorForman_1

9 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

Best Cleanser I have ever come accross
I have gone through many cleansers. This is by far the best I have come accross.

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