What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicLecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citrus Paradisi Peel Extract
Perfuming
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingVaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEthylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Sodium Xylenesulfonate
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Salicylic Acid, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Biotin, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, CI 42090, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract, Yeast Extract, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Citrate, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Sodium Xylenesulfonate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Amodimethicone
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientSteareth-20
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Menthol
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-37
Polyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Steareth-20, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Menthol, Menthyl Lactate, Glucose, Lactic Acid, Polyquaternium-37, Polyquaternium-47, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum
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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium 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 BenzoateSodium 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
