What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacin
SmoothingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Ferrocyanide
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide, Glycerin, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, Cyanocobalamin, Thiamine Hcl, Pyridoxine, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Ferrocyanide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Methyl Isethionate
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-73
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-10
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantZinc PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingSodium Laurate
CleansingCoconut Acid
Cleansing
Serine
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-73, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-10, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Zinc PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Alanine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Lauryl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Laurate, Coconut Acid, Serine, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
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 Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.
It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.
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 GlycerinPotassium 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 SorbateChances 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 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 HydroxideTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
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
