What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Betaine
Humectant
Laureth-2
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDianthus Chinensis Extract
HumectantPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Laureth-2, Butylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dianthus Chinensis Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Propylene Glycol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Chloride
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium PCA, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Saccharide Isomerate, Parfum, Rose Extract, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol
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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolChances 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 ChlorideWater. 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
