What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Cocamide Mea, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
PEG-150
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Aluminum Chlorohydrate
AstringentCarnitine
Cleansing
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
Emollient
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantTrisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, PEG-150, PEG-8, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Carnitine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice, Cera Alba, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Lactic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Oleic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trideceth-9, Citric Acid, Glucose, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bisabolol, Caramel, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate
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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
