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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Shiseido WASO: Gentle Cleanser versus Sk-II Facial Treatment Cleanser .

Last updated on March 01, 2024. Published on August 29, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both face cleansers. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens or oils

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

Face Cleanser Japanese Brand Japan
Face Cleanser Japanese Brand Japan

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Shop

Buy WASO: Gentle Cleanser

Starts at $28.00
Shop

Buy Facial Treatment Cleanser

Starts at $6.99

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Scar Healing
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (2)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

AHA (2)
BHA
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores (3)
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (4)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (3)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Shiseido WASO: Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Sk-II Facial Treatment Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Shiseido WASO: Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.

Sk-II Facial Treatment Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 5.

3
What it does: Masking, Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

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.

Sodium Benzoate 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

Shiseido WASO: Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 8.

Sk-II Facial Treatment Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.

4
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

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

Shiseido WASO: Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 14.

Sk-II Facial Treatment Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 9.

5
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

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

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.

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 look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Shiseido WASO: Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.

Sk-II Facial Treatment Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 10.

6
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Shiseido WASO: Gentle Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 19.

Sk-II Facial Treatment Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

32% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
55% are disliked or very disliked
5% have no rating yet
41% are loved or liked
18% have mixed ratings
35% are disliked or very disliked
6% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Shiseido WASO: Gentle Cleanser 22 ingredients

WASO: Gentle Cleanser hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Sk-II Facial Treatment Cleanser 17 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 1 rating

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Shiseido WASO: Gentle Cleanser.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Sk-II Facial Treatment Cleanser.

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