What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Citronellol
Perfuming
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Pyruvic Acid
MaskingTartaric Acid
Buffering
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Cholecalciferol
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sodium Chloride, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Limonene, Linalool, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citronellol, Cocos Nucifera Water, Pyruvic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Geraniol, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Phospholipids, Sodium Carbonate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cholecalciferol, Pantothenic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingBenzyl Glycol
SolventCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialEthyl Hexanediol
SolventCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Lauric Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Benzyl Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Ethyl Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Asiatic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Madecassoside, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
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 AcidGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract is from the Neem tree. Neem trees originate from India.
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
The flowers of this tree are lilac colored.
Learn more about Melia Azadirachta Flower ExtractMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract is extract from the neem plant.
The leaves of this tree contain flavonoids and polyphenols. These two compounds are antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. Further research is needed as to their effects when applied on skin.
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.
What it does:
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.
Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.
CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.
Learn more about Sodium C14-16 Olefin SulfonateChances 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 ChlorideWater. 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
