What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Soyamidopropylamine Oxide
CleansingPolyquaternium-71
HumectantMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Soyamidopropylamine Oxide, Polyquaternium-71, Maltodextrin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Panthenol, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
Cleansing
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cocoglucosides Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
CleansingHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate
CleansingPEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-7
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Acetic Acid
BufferingSodium Acetate
BufferingBenzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Cocamide Mipa, Parfum, Panthenol, Cocoglucosides Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Biotin, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate, PEG-150 Distearate, Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone, Trideceth-6, C11-15 Pareth-7, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Acetic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal
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 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
