What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Mannitol
Humectant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSucrose
Humectant
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Citric Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Panthenol, Potassium Cocoate, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sucrose, Zea Mays Starch, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Ectoin
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Stearate
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycol Distearate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Methylpropanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
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 Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
