What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingCreatine
Skin ConditioningSoy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Threonine
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Sulfate
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-18 Fatty Acids Methyl Esters
Perfuming
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Zinc Laurate
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Linalool
Perfuming
Sodium Laurate
CleansingUrea
Buffering
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Creatine, Soy Amino Acids, Wheat Amino Acids, Serine, Threonine, Arginine Hcl, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Citric Acid, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Phenoxyethanol, Lauric Acid, Coconut Acid, Sodium Sulfate, Glycerin, C12-18 Fatty Acids Methyl Esters, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Zinc Laurate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Linalool, Sodium Laurate, Urea, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Propylene Glycol, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Glycine, Alanine, Magnesium Aspartate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingSodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialPolyquaternium-10
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCrataegus Monogyna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialPrunus Amygdalus Amara Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicTocopherol
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Palmitamide Mea
HumectantBis-Capryloyloxypalmitamido Isopropanol
EmollientN-Linolenoyl Serinol
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingWater, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Chloride, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Anisate, Polyquaternium-10, Panthenol, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Leaf Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Amara Seed Extract, Biotin, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Palmitamide Mea, Bis-Capryloyloxypalmitamido Isopropanol, N-Linolenoyl Serinol, Leucine, Lysine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Valine
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.
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 GlycerinLauryl Glucoside sugar- and lipid-based cleansing agent. It is created from glucose and lauryl alcohol.
This ingredient is a surfactant, making it easier to rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants away.
A British study found lauryl glucoside to cause skin sensitivity for some people. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Other names for this ingredient include "Lauryl Polyglucose", "Lauryl glycoside", and "D-Glucopyranoside".
Learn more about Lauryl GlucosideChances 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 ChlorideThreonine is an amino-acid. It helps hydrate the skin and has antioxidant benefits.
Our skin uses threonine for creating collagen and elastin. Humans are not able to create threonine and must get it through eating foods such as fish, lentils, poultry, sesame seeds, and more.
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
