What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Avocado Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPassiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C10-18 Triglycerides, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Avocado Protein, Maltodextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
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 AcidDicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
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.
Learn more about Tocopherol
