Quench Botanics Mesmerice Gentle Exfoliation Cream Face Wash Versus The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientOryza Sativa Powder
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingSorbitol
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingOleth-10
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Disodium EDTA
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSimethicone
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingTocopherol
AntioxidantOryza Sativa Bran Water
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Triethylhexanoin, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Polyacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Palmitic Acid, Oryza Sativa Powder, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, Sorbitol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Oleth-10, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Simethicone, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Titanium Dioxide
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingGlycol Distearate
EmollientLauric Acid
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSaponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
C12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingWater, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Lauric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Mea, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Chloride, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, CI 42090, CI 19140, CI 14700, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Parfum
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWater. 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