What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Copper PCA
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oligopeptide-10
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, C12-13 Pareth-9, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Xylitol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Zinc PCA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Salicylate, Copper PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oligopeptide-10, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCeteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
PEG-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Olus Oil
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
C12-13 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Tetrasodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-3 Distearate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Xylitol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Olus Oil, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-150 Distearate, Citric Acid, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Chloride, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Parfum
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Chances 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 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 HyaluronateSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate is a gentle, coconut-derived cleansing surfactant. It's most commonly found in "sulfate-free" cleansers.
As a taurate, it belongs to a class of anionic surfactants prized for being efficient at cleansing without harshness, good performance in hard water, stability across a wide pH range, and easily biodegradable.
It is able to lift away oil and grime and make a nice lather without stripping your skin, so it's a good pick for sensitive skin.
Safety-wise, it has a good record. The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and concentrations go up to 11% in leave-on products or 13% in rinse-off products.
Despite being derived from coconut oil, this ingredient is fungal acne safe. It's a water-soluble surfactant with no fatty oils or esters left intact on skin for the Malassezia yeast to feed.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about Xylitol
