ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense Versus ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Cleanser
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense 51 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Cleanser 29 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense 51 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Cleanser 29 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Steareth-20
CleansingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactose
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Cellulose
AbsorbentHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylparaben
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
Humectant
EDTA
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract
Antioxidant
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Steareth-20, Jojoba Esters, Carbomer, C14-22 Alcohols, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactose, Disodium EDTA, Cellulose, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Beta-Glucan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylparaben, Lecithin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sorbitol, EDTA, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Limonene, CI 77007, CI 60730
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCellulose
AbsorbentMannitol
Humectant
Caprylyl Alcohol
Masking
Niacin
Smoothing
Ammonium Lactate
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Hydroxide, Cellulose, Mannitol, Caprylyl Alcohol, Niacin, Ammonium Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Niacinamide, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium PCA, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77289
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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 WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinJojoba Esters is a wax created from Jojoba oil. It is an emollient and film-forming ingredient. In bead form, it is an exfoliator.
This ingredient has high oxidative stability, meaning it doesn't break down when exposed to oxygen.
Its similarity to our skin's natural oils makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe our skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, keeping skin hydrated.
It is created using either the hydrogenation or transesterification processes on jojoba oil.
Learn more about Jojoba EstersPhenoxyethanol 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.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolSodium 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 HydroxideEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Disodium 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 EDTACellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. It is used as an emulsifier, absorbent, and texture enhancer.
This ingredient has many functions:
Fun fact: Cellulose is the most abundant form of organic polymer on Earth.
Learn more about CelluloseHexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.
As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.
Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolThis ingredient is a semi-synthetic polymer created from cellulose. In case you need a refresher, cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls.
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose has many uses:
- emulsifier
- create a gel-like texture
- boost foam
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneIngredient Ratings
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When to use
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense 51 ingredients
ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Cleanser 29 ingredients
