What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-22
PEG-7 Amodimethicone
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Mandelic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyquaternium-22, PEG-7 Amodimethicone, Polyquaternium-7, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Acrylates Crosspolymer-4
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyitaconate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingCocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyquaternium-7
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Menthol
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Propanediol, Acrylates Crosspolymer-4, Sodium Polyitaconate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamide Mipa, 1,2-Hexanediol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycolic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-7, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Menthol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Polyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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
