Versus

RYO Damage Care & Nourishing Shampoo Versus RYO Root:Gen For Women Hair Loss Care Shampoo

Shampoo
Shampoo
Korean Brand
Korean Brand

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe shampoos. They have a total of 25 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances and oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Damage Care & Nourishing Shampoo

Water

Skin Conditioning

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Cleansing
Sulfate IconCan worsen Dry Skin Icon

Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate

Cleansing
0 / 0 Sulfate IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconMay cause irritation Icon

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Cocamide Methyl Mea

Parfum

Masking
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

Cleansing

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride

Skin Conditioning

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Lauric Acid

Cleansing
4 / 1 May worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cetyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Cocamide Mea

Emulsifying

Sodium Cocoamphoacetate

Cleansing

Sodium Benzoate

Masking
Preservative Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Trihydroxystearin

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate

Emollient

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Sodium Salicylate

Preservative
Preservative IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sodium Citrate

Buffering

Disodium EDTA

Sodium Chloride

Masking
Can worsen Dry Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Hexyl Cinnamal

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Benzyl Benzoate

Antimicrobial
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Linalool

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Laureth-23

Cleansing
3 / 0

Laureth-3

Emulsifying

Limonene

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Malt Extract

Skin Protecting

Citronellol

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Tetrasodium EDTA

May worsen Eczema Icon

Camellia Japonica Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Punica Granatum Fruit Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Lactic Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Alcohol

Antimicrobial
Alcohol IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Emollient
0 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil

Humectant
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether

Solvent

Alcohol Denat.

Antimicrobial
Alcohol IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Glycolipids

Skin Conditioning

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Bleaching
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Xylitylglucoside

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Anhydroxylitol

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Amodimethicone

Silicon Icon

Xylitol

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Masking
Helps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Dipropylene Glycol

Masking

Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Royal Jelly Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Glucose

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Honey

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract

Skin Conditioning

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Acetic Acid

Buffering

Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Trideceth-10

Cleansing

Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract

Skin Conditioning
Root:Gen For Women Hair Loss Care Shampoo

Water

Skin Conditioning

Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

Cleansing

Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate

Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate

Cleansing
May cause irritation Icon

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Cleansing
May worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sorbitol

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Cocamide Methyl Mea

Parfum

Masking
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sodium Chloride

Masking
Can worsen Dry Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Maltitol

Humectant

Coco-Glucoside

Cleansing

Caffeine

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether

Solvent

Limonene

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Decyl Glucoside

Cleansing

Sodium Salicylate

Preservative
Preservative IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Cetyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Menthol

Masking
May cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Soyamidopropylamine Oxide

Cleansing

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride

Skin Conditioning

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water

Masking

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Polyquaternium-10

Sodium Citrate

Buffering

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Trihydroxystearin

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Dicaprylyl Ether

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Polyquaternium-22

Sodium Metaphosphate

Buffering

Propanediol

Solvent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Alcohol Denat.

Antimicrobial
Alcohol IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sodium Benzoate

Masking
Preservative Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Tetrasodium EDTA

May worsen Eczema Icon

Thuja Orientalis Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Panax Ginseng Root Cell Extract

Skin Conditioning

Dehydroacetic Acid

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Glycine Max Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Punica Granatum Fruit Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Camellia Japonica Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil

Humectant
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glycine Max Polypeptide

Skin Conditioning
Peptide Icon

Panax Ginseng Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Masking
Oil Icon

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Masking
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Masking
Helps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Dextrin

Absorbent

Cyclodextrin

Absorbent

Rosa Damascena Flower Extract

Masking

Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Masking

Glycine Max Oil

Emollient
Oil Icon

Disodium EDTA

Selaginella Tamariscina Extract

Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Arginine

Masking
Good for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Ceramide NP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Rosa Canina Flower Oil

Emollient
Oil Icon

Citrus Aurantifolia Oil

Cleansing
Fragrance IconOil Icon

Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil

Skin Conditioning
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Phytosphingosine

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Emulsifying
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Canola Oil

Emollient
Oil IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial

Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sorbitol, Cocamide Methyl Mea, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Maltitol, Coco-Glucoside, Caffeine, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Limonene, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Salicylate, Citric Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Menthol, Soyamidopropylamine Oxide, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Citrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trihydroxystearin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Polyquaternium-22, Sodium Metaphosphate, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Thuja Orientalis Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panax Ginseng Root Cell Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Glycine Max Polypeptide, Panax Ginseng Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Dextrin, Cyclodextrin, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Glycine Max Oil, Disodium EDTA, Selaginella Tamariscina Extract, Tocopherol, Arginine, Ceramide NP, Rosa Canina Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Canola Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse. 

It is a:

  • Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
  • Emollient, helping to soften skin
  • Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
  • Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives 
Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking

Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.

This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.

However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.

Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.

This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.

Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.

Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.

The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.

Also...

This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.

The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.

Other types of astringent alcohols include:

Learn more about Alcohol Denat.
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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 Glycol
Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Camellia Japonica Seed Oil comes from the Japanese Camellia plant. This plant is native to East Asia and known as "Tsubaki" in Japanese.

Camellia Japonica Seed Oil is rich in oleic acid. This makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe the skin by forming a barrier. This barrier traps moisture within, keeping your skin hydated.

Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil is the oil expressed from the seeds from the tea plant. This is the same plant we get green, black, and oolong tea from.

Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil is rich in oleic acid. This makes it an effective moisturizer. By drawing moisture to the skin, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil helps keep your skin hydrated.

Other components of Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil includes Vitamin E and polyphenols. These are antioxidants that may help slow down the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or unstable molecules that can damage our skin cells.

Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil also has anti-inflammatory properties.

The seed oil comes from the dried kernels of the plant.

Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising

Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.

Its main roles are:

Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.

The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

Learn more about Cetyl Alcohol
Masking, Buffering

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

We don't have a description for Cocamide Methyl Mea yet.

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA
Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

This ingredient is derived from guar gum.

It is a conditioning ingredient, meaning it helps soften skin and hair.

Perfuming, Solvent

Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.

It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".

Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.

When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.

The term '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.

Learn more about Limonene
Masking, Perfuming

Parfum 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 Parfum

We don't have a description for PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether yet.

Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

You might know this ingredient as pomegranate fruit. It has been shown to have antioxidant, skin soothing and anti-aging benefits.

Pomegranates are rich in antioxidant compounds such as polyphenolic compounds such as ellagic acid, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and flavonoids.

Both in-vivo and in-vitro studies show pomegranate fruit helps with:

These benefits offer skin anti-aging and skin soothing benefits.

Fun fact: The name pomegranate comes from two latin words: "pome" or apple, and "granate" or "many seeded".

Pomegranate flower extract is often confused for pomegranate fruit extract, but comes from the flowers of the tree.

Learn more about Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Masking, Preservative

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Sodium Benzoate
Masking

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.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride
Buffering, Masking

Sodium 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 Citrate
Preservative

This ingredient is the sodium salt of salicylic acid, the famous anti-acne ingredient.

Officially, this ingredient is used as a preservative. However, some studies found Sodium Salicylate to have exfoliating properties. Further studies are needed.

Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.

Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.

Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol
Skin Conditioning

This ingredient comes from Hydroxystearic Acid, a fatty acid, and glycerin. It is used to thicken oils.

Due to its fatty acid content, it is a natural emollient.

Creating trihydroxystearin involves using a chemical reaction between hydrogen and castor oil.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.

Learn more about Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Masking, Skin Conditioning, Tonic

Zingiber Officinale is more commonly known as ginger.

Ginger root has antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties.

The antioxidant properties help protect your body from free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. As a result, ginger may help slow down signs of aging such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.

Studies show ginger inhibits the enzyme that breaks down collagen. It also helps with:

This ingredient has no negative side-effects and is safe to use unless one has a specific allergy to it.

Ginger originates from Southeast Asia but has spread throughout the world. It is now a common spice used in many cultures.

Learn more about Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

When to use

5 Routines
20% use in am
80% use in pm
60% use every day