What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentWater, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Citric Acid, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTASodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is a gentle, coconut-derived cleansing surfactant. It's most commonly found in "sulfate-free" cleansers.
As a taurate, it belongs to a class of anionic surfactants prized for being efficient at cleansing without harshness, good performance in hard water, stability across a wide pH range, and easily biodegradable.
It is able to lift away oil and grime and make a nice lather without stripping your skin, so it's a good pick for sensitive skin.
Safety-wise, it has a good record. The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and concentrations go up to 11% in leave-on products or 13% in rinse-off products.
Despite being derived from coconut oil, this ingredient is fungal acne safe. It's a water-soluble surfactant with no fatty oils or esters left intact on skin for the Malassezia yeast to feed.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
