Naturium The Calmer Ceramide Body Wash Versus Naturium The Smoother Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Wash
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-10
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocamide Mipa, Coco-Glucoside, Propanediol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Sodium PCA, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Allantoin, Polyquaternium-10, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Potassium Cocoate, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Titanium Dioxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Pyruvic Acid
MaskingTartaric Acid
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Polyquaternium-73
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-10
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Didecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventPolyquaternium-80
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycol Distearate, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Sodium PCA, Polyquaternium-73, Cocamide Mipa, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Polyquaternium-10, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Methylpropanediol, Polyquaternium-80, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Lactate
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 AcidWe don't have a description for Cocamide Mipa yet.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinLactic 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 “glue” 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 don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re 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 skin’s 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 product’s 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 AcidPolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Sodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium 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 PCA (the salt of PCA) is one of the most well-established humectants in skincare.
Why is it so special? Your skin already makes it naturally; it's a natural component of your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the mix of water-binding compounds inside your skin cells that keeps things soft and hydrated.
As a cosmetic ingredient, it grabs water and holds it in the upper layers of skin to smooth roughness and ease dehydration.
There's some clinical support for the NMF approach with a study showing that a cream built to mimic the skin's NMF significantly boosted hydration.
Safety-wise, this ingredient non-irritating, non-comedogenic, and non-phototoxic in testing, with minimal skin absorption.
It also works really well with other hydrators like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, and typical usage is somewhere between 0.2-4%.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
