La Roche-Posay Ultra-Fine Exfoliating Scrub Face Wash for Sensitive Skin Versus Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser For Sensitive Skin
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPerlite
AbsorbentAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPumice
AbrasivePoloxamer 184
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingPolyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMyrtrimonium Bromide
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Perlite, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Hydroxide, Pumice, Poloxamer 184, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-47, BHT, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Myrtrimonium Bromide, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasivePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPoloxamer 188
EmulsifyingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChrysanthemum Parthenium Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Polysorbate 20, Poloxamer 188, Zea Mays Starch, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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