What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
PPG-9
Skin ConditioningAcrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingTrehalose
Humectant
Polyquaternium-10
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
C10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate
Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Citric Acid, Coconut Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Carbomer, Gluconolactone, PPG-9, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-10, Tocopheryl Acetate, C10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Apium Graveolens Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Chloride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Apium Graveolens Seed Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate
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 AcidCocamidopropyl 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 BetaineSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateChances 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.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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
