What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
Antioxidant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylpropanediol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactic Acid
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic Acid
