What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
PCA Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil
Masking
Lippia Citriodora Oil
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, PCA Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Mentha Piperita Oil, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil, Lippia Citriodora Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicNiacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
PEG-45m
HumectantPPG-9
Skin ConditioningAmyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium C12-13 Pareth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Biotin, Niacinamide, Dimethiconol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Glycol Distearate, Carbomer, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Cocamide Mea, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, PEG-45m, PPG-9, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Linalool, Mica, CI 77891
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 AcidCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineDisodium 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 EDTASodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
