Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash Versus First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Polish

Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash Versus First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Polish

This exfoliator is formulated around Sucrose to hydrate.

This mild cream cleanser is mild enough to cleanse without leaving skin feeling tight or stripped.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Glycerin

Sucrose

Butylene Glycol

Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Juice

Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate

Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract

Zea Mays Starch

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil

Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract

Tocopherol

Parfum

Carbomer

Water

Sodium Hydroxide

Ascorbic Acid

Citric Acid

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Limonene

Citral

Benzyl Alcohol

Linalool

Glycerin, Sucrose, Butylene Glycol, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Juice, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Parfum, Carbomer, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Citral, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Behenyl Alcohol

Propanediol

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine

Glyceryl Stearate Se

Sodium Chloride

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract

Coconut Acid

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Colloidal Oatmeal

Ceramide NP

Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil

Sodium Phytate

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Rubus Occidentalis Fruit Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Sodium Acetate

Panthenol

Hydroxypropyl Guar

Ethylhexylglycerin

Sorbitol

C12-15 Alkyl Lactate

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide

Copernicia Cerifera Wax

Sorbic Acid

Cellulose

Lactic Acid

Phenoxyethanol

Chlorphenesin

Propylene Glycol

CI 77891

Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Behenyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Coconut Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal, Ceramide NP, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Sodium Phytate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rubus Occidentalis Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Sodium Acetate, Panthenol, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitol, Tocopherol, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Sorbic Acid, Cellulose, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool, CI 77891

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.

Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.

It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.

Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.

A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.

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.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.

Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.

Sodium 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.

Sodium 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.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil comes from the grape vine. Grape seeds are a byproduct of creating grape juice or wine.

The components of grape seeds have many skin benefits. Research has found it to be antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It also contains many potent antioxidants such as Vitamin E , Vitamin C, proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Proanthocyanidin has been shown to help even out skin tone.

Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals by donating extra electrons. Grape seed extract may help reduce the signs of aging.

The antimicrobial properties of grape seed may help treat acne. However, more research is needed to support this claim.

Grape seed has also been found to help absorb UV rays. Grape seed extract should not replace your sunscreen.

The fatty acids of grape seed oil give it emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin by creating a film. This film traps moisture within, keeping your skin hydrated.

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. Remember to stay hydrated!

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