What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Betaine
CleansingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Trideceth-10
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
Steareth-6
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Trideceth-3
EmulsifyingFumaric Acid
BufferingAcetic Acid
BufferingCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Hexylene Glycol, Parfum, Cocamide Mea, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Coco-Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Trideceth-10, PEG-100 Stearate, Steareth-6, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Trideceth-3, Fumaric Acid, Acetic Acid, CI 60730, CI 60725
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 AcidCoco-Betaine is the natural version of Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is often derived from coconuts.
Coco-Betaine is a surfactant, meaning it helps remove dirt and oil from the skin.
Chances 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
