What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Rice Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Lactose
HumectantUrea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rice Amino Acids, Allantoin, Ascorbic Acid, Cellulose, Sodium PCA, Lactose, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Parfum, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningCordyceps Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Monosodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
Masking
Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Caffeine, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Monosodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
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 AcidGlycerin (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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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
