Koa Life Vit-C Brightening Cleanser Versus Clearstem Skincare Gentleclean Vitamin Infused Calming Wash
Updated on May 21, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Koa Life Vit-C Brightening Cleanser 17 ingredients
Clearstem Skincare Gentleclean Vitamin Infused Calming Wash 29 ingredients
What's inside
What's inside
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Koa Life Vit-C Brightening Cleanser 17 ingredients
Clearstem Skincare Gentleclean Vitamin Infused Calming Wash 29 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
Cleansing
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Ascorbic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingSorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrastis Canadensis Extract
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil
Skin Protecting
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Seed Extract
Masking
Capsaicin
MaskingHesperidin
EmollientCitrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Jasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sclerotium Gum, Polysorbate 20, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Seed Extract, Capsaicin, Hesperidin, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic 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 BetaineCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin 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 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 GlucosideSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate is a cleansing ingredient. It is a surfactant, meaning it helps gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants. This helps them be rinsed away easily.
We don't have a description for Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate yet.
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer is also known as Poly Suga®Mulse D9 (We'll call is SODC for short).
SODC is a nonionic fragrance solubilizer. A solubilizer blends small amounts of oils into water-based formulas. It is especially good at solubilizing fragrances in water-only systems.
SODC does not contain PEGs. It is hydrophilic, meaning it has the tendency to mix with water.
In products, SODC acts as an emulsifer by blending waters and oils.
Learn more about Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside CrosspolymerWater. 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 WaterIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Koa Life Vit-C Brightening Cleanser 17 ingredients
Clearstem Skincare Gentleclean Vitamin Infused Calming Wash 29 ingredients
