What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Arginine Cocoate
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingColloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Meadowfoam Estolide
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-20
CleansingChrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Arginine Cocoate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Glucoside, Citric Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ethylhexylglycerin, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Colloidal Oatmeal, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ceramide NP, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Glycosphingolipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Meadowfoam Estolide, Ceramide AP, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Steareth-20, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Disodium EDTA, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Acrylates Crosspolymer-4
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCastoryl Maleate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Methylparaben
Preservative
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Acrylates Crosspolymer-4, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Stearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Castoryl Maleate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Lauric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Palmitic Acid, Ethylparaben, Malachite Extract, Oleic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Cyanocobalamin
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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolChances 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.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic 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
