What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingAcrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Potassium Laureth Phosphate
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingPolyquaternium-7
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Methyltaurate
Skin ConditioningSodium Sarcosinate
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingWater, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Laureth Phosphate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Polyquaternium-7, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Bisabolol, Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Methyltaurate, Sodium Sarcosinate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingLauryl Betaine
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Citric Acid
BufferingPEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingCeramide As
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingArginine
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantStearic Acid
CleansingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauryl Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Citric Acid, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Coco-Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Niacinamide, Ceramide As, Panthenol, Ceramide Ns, Salicylic Acid, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Stearic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine
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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
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 BenzoateChances 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 Cocoyl Glycinate is a cleansing agent. It can be naturally derived or synthetically-created.
As a surfactant, it helps clean your skin by gathering dirt, oil, and other pollutants to be rinsed away more easily.
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