What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide
EmulsifyingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Gluconate
ChelatingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
Masking
Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Citric Acid, Papain, Bromelain, Allantoin, Maltodextrin, Sodium Gluconate, Glyceryl Oleate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Chloride, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Acrylates Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
ChelatingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
ChelatingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Glycol Stearate, Cocamide Mipa, Acrylates Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Niacinamide, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Gluconate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
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.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Gluconate is the sodium salt of gluconic acid. In skincare, its main job is as a chelator.
Chelators grab onto stray metal ions like iron and copper that sneak in through water, raw materials, or manufacturing equipment. This stops them from triggering reactions that cause oils to go rancid, formulas to change color, and actives like vitamin C to fall apart.
This ingredient is often chosen as a biodegradable, gentler-sounding alternative to EDTA. It also pulls double duty as a mild humectant and pH buffer.
Typical use levels sit around 0.1-1% and supplier documents list up to 10% as an acceptable ceiling. Industry data found this ingredient family is mostly used well below 1% in leave on products.
Allergy risk is very low; animal testing has found it to be non-irritating to skin and eyes, mutagenicity assays came back negative, and there are no published reports of allergic contact dermatitis to it.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateWater. 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
