What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Pentapeptide-59
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Mandelic Acid, Gluconolactone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Betaine, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Pentapeptide-59, Maltodextrin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Synthetic Sapphire
PEG/PPG-20/6 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-Crosspolymer
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Mandelic Acid, Synthetic Sapphire, PEG/PPG-20/6 Dimethicone, Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-Crosspolymer, Alcohol, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Glycolic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Morus Alba Root Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cholate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Parfum, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Limonene, Isoeugenol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAMandelic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).
Like other AHAs, it helps exfoliate the surface of the skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
Mandelic acid helps with:
Due to it having a larger molecular size than glycolic acid, mandelic acid is able to penetrate the skin more slowly and evenly. This makes it gentler and less irritating, making it a great option for sensitive or beginner skin.
Despite being milder, mandelic acid is still an effective exfoliant that improves skin texture and tone over time.
What makes mandelic acid stand out from other AHAs? It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
These traits make it a great option for acne-prone or problem skin by reducing active breakouts and fading post-acne marks. Studies show that mandelic acid (especially when combined with salicylic acid) can significantly reduce pimples and hyperpigmentation while causing fewer side effects than stronger acids.
Mandelic acid is effective in concentrations of 5% and up with an ideal pH range of 3-4 for at-home use.
Like other AHAs, itβs important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your newly exfoliated skin.
However, unlike glycolic acid, mandelic acid is light-sensitive. Be sure your mandelic acid is packaged in opaque containers to ensure it stays stable and effective.
In short, mandelic acid is a gentle yet powerful AHA that exfoliates, brightens, and helps clarify skin while keeping irritation low. Its antibacterial action makes it especially beneficial for those with acne-prone, sensitive, or uneven skin, offering smoother, clearer, and more even-toned results over time.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Mandelic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Chances 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
