What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
PEG-200
Humectant
PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
CleansingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
PEG-7
Humectant
Glyceryl Cocoate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Acrylates Copolymer
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocamide Mea
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Mannose
HumectantPolyquaternium-11
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingVitreoscilla Ferment
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-200, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Coco-Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, PEG-7, Glyceryl Cocoate, Niacinamide, Acrylates Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocamide Mea, Disodium EDTA, Glycol Distearate, Mannose, Polyquaternium-11, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Vitreoscilla Ferment
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingMannitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
PEG-90 Glyceryl Isostearate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Laureth-2
CleansingAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingLysine Azelate
BleachingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningUndecyl Alcohol
AntiseborrhoeicCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Zinc Gluconate, PEG-90 Glyceryl Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Capryloyl Glycine, Decylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laureth-2, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Lysine Azelate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Undecyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
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.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAChances 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 ChlorideSodium 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 HydroxideSodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a foaming, cleansing, and emulsifying ingredient. It is created from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. SLES is not the same as sodium lauryl sulfate. It is much milder and less likely to irritate.
SLES helps create foam in personal products. It also prevents ingredients from separating, helping to elongate the shelf life.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying. We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have concerns.
Learn more about Sodium Laureth SulfateWater. 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
