What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Trideceth Sulfate
Cleansing
Petrolatum
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Trideceth-3
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Petrolatum, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Trideceth-3, Niacinamide, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Citrate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Surfactant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Coconut Acid
Emollient
Polyquaternium-53
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Coconut Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Salicylic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Coconut Acid, Polyquaternium-53, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Isethionate, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Trideceth-6, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, BHT, Ceramide AP
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCitric 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAChances 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 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
