Versus

Mary & May Vegan Low pH Hyaluronic Gel Cleanser Versus Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Triple AHA Gentle Cleansing Gel

Face Cleanser
Face Cleanser
Korean Brand South Korea
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on March 31, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Vegan Low pH Hyaluronic Gel Cleanser

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. 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
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse. 

It is a:

  • Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  • Emollient, helping to soften skin
  • Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  • Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives 
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid
Skin Conditioning

Beta-Glucan is a polysaccharide. It can be derived from the cell walls of seaweed, oats, yeast, and fungi. It hydrates the skin and helps boost your skin's natural barrier.

As an antioxidant, beta-glucan helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

Studies show this ingredient may be an effective wrinkle reducer as it can deeply penetrate into skin. It has also been show to help with wound healing.

Learn more about Beta-Glucan
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

When to use

18 Routines
44% use in am
56% use in pm
94% use every day
367 Routines
38% use in am
62% use in pm
91% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Mary & May Vegan Low pH Hyaluronic Gel Cleanser 35 ingredients

2.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Strong Scent (2) Hydrating (1) Light (1)
ichigoluvah's avatar

ichigoluvah

3 months ago
Review

It's not bad it's just- basic. Not too drying but nothing special. It doesn't have that luxurious feeling I usually get from a gel cleanser. Has a weird natural grape smell to it.

#hydrating
#light
#strong scent
#works well
frostshine13's avatar

frostshine13

1 month ago
Review

It cleans, doesn't dry out too much - but oh god the smell. I brought it on a trip as it was the only bottle of cleanser under 100ml I had, and god did I regret it. It is PERFUMY as hell, and I'm not usually one to complain about it. It's unfortunately going in the trash, as I cannot make myself finish it.

#strong scent

Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Triple AHA Gentle Cleansing Gel 25 ingredients

4.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Great Value (1) Hydrating (1) Light (1)
daria_x's avatar

daria_x

5 months ago
Review

IM USING THIS ON MY HIDEOUS BACKACNE FOR A WHILE AND ITS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING😭 It's hydrating and gentle while having triple aha and no salicylic acid ( I can't tolerate salicylic acid so it's a good option for me😭 ) only had some slight purging at start but it went away soon and left my back unrecognizable😍 Backacne Bye Bye😎 I also tried using this one face hoping it unclogs some pores by cellturn Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#no scent