What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Bentonite
Absorbent
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lauryl Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Bentonite, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Ceramide NP, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sucrose Stearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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 AcidGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLauryl 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 GlucosideWater. 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
