What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBenzoyl Peroxide 10%
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCapryl/Capramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingWater, Benzoyl Peroxide 10%, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Capryl/Capramidopropyl Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 SulfonateWater. 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
