Somethinc Reset Gentle Micellar Cleansing Water Versus Finally Found You! Ocean Blue Pea Dual-Phase Micellar Water
This mild micellar makeup remover is made to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup.
This mild micellar makeup remover is made to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octanediol
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Copper Gluconate, Butylene Glycol, Octanediol, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientSea Water
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingGuaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Isododecane, Sea Water, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, Tromethamine, Guaiazulene, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is a botanical extract pulled from the leaves of aloe vera and one of the most studied plant ingredients in cosmetics.
The inner leaf gel it comes from is mostly water (~99-99.5%) and the remaining fraction is made up of pretty good stuff: polysaccharides, vitamins, phenolics, and enzymes.
Its headline job is hydration.
The star polysaccharide in aloe, acemannan, is a humectant that retains moisture and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Aloe also has real soothing credentials; it contains anti-inflammatory compounds like bradykinase and C-glucosyl chromone that help calm irritation and redness.
On the repair side, lab work shows that acemannan wakes up your skin's repair cells (fibroblasts), prompting them to multiply and speed up healing.
There's some human data for cosmetic benefit too: a cream containing 10% Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract improved skin hydration and elasticity in a real-use study.
Safety-wise, this ingredient is well-regarded with just one rare downside; there have been some case reports of acute eczema, contact urticaria, and dermatitis in people who applied aloe-derived ingredients topically. Those with a known aloe or Liliaceae sensitivity should patch test.
Typical use levels range widely, from under 1% up to 90%+ depending on the format and the effect you are after.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractButylene 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 GlycolCitric 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 AcidPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
