What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Betaine
CleansingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Phytate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Chloride, Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Coco-Glucoside, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Phytate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Mandelic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Bifida Ferment Lysate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
BufferingPCA
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Serine
Masking
Alanine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium PCA, PEG-8, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Panthenol, Sodium Chloride, Chlorphenesin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.
This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.
Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.
Another name for betaine is trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 AcidGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinChances 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.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
