What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-4
EmulsifyingLaureth-4
Emulsifying
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Quaternium-80
Polyquaternium-44
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Nitrate
Magnesium Chloride
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cocamide Mipa, Panthenol, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Steareth-4, Laureth-4, Laureth-23, Quaternium-80, Polyquaternium-44, Propylene Glycol, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycol Stearate, Glycol Distearate, PEG-150 Distearate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Magnesium Nitrate, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPotato Starch Modified
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-10
Acrylates Copolymer
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Amodimethicone, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Potato Starch Modified, Cocamide Mipa, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Trideceth-6, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Coco-Betaine, Citric Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Polyquaternium-10, Acrylates Copolymer, Benzoic Acid
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 AcidWe don't have a description for Cocamide Mipa yet.
Glycol Distearate serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.
It's often included in cleansers and haircare products to give them a lustrous or shimmering appearance.
It is derived from stearic acid, a natural fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats.
Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateChances 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
