What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder
Abrasive
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Limonene
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantLinalool
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberSodium Sulfate
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Denatonium Benzoate
Masking
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Coco-Glucoside, Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Limonene, Citric Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Linalool, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Sodium Sulfate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Denatonium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Dehydroacetic Acid, CI 14700, CI 15985
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Juglans Regia Shell Powder
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Algin
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Glycerin, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Algin, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Cellulose Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
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 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 BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
