Pond's Hydra Miracle Ultra Light Biome Gel Gentle Cleanser Cera-Hyamino Versus Labore GentleBiome Mild Cleanser
This mild gel cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry.
This mild micellar cleanser is made to cleanse while respecting your skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cystine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingPolyquaternium-6
Citric Acid
Buffering
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingBenzophenone-4
UV Absorber
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Decyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cystine, Glycine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Panthenol, Saccharide Isomerate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Phytosphingosine, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coconut Acid, Sodium Carbonate, Polyquaternium-6, Citric Acid, PEG-150 Distearate, Stearic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Benzophenone-4, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Cholesterol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingXylitol
Humectant
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG-8, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Xylitol, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Isohexadecane, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric 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.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSaccharide Isomerate comes from sugars found in corn. It is a skin hydrator.
The structure of this ingredient can be altered to be more similar to the carbohydrates found in our skin. This ability to mimic our skin gives it hydrating properties.
Specifically, saccharide Isomerate is a humectant. Humectants draw moisture from the air to our skin.
Research shows Saccharide Isomerate to be an effective moisturizer.
Learn more about Saccharide IsomerateSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
