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
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCocamide Mea
Emulsifying
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-39
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Cocamide Mea, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-39, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, 2,3-Butanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingParfum
Masking
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyquaternium-22
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide
Emulsifying
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
BHA
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium PCA, PEG-150 Distearate, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-22, Chlorphenesin, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Benzoic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Potassium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, BHA, Citronellol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal
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 AcidCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a synthetic cleansing agent, though it is derived from coconut oil.
It is used to enhance the texture of products by boosting lather and thickening the texture. As a cleanser, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is mild.
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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
