What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ferulic Acid, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Levulinate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Oligopeptide-68
Bleaching
Sodium Oleate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBeetroot Red
Beta Vulgaris Root Powder
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77489
Cosmetic ColorantMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Mannitol, Cellulose, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Oligopeptide-68, Sodium Oleate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Beetroot Red, Beta Vulgaris Root Powder, Citric Acid, CI 77489, Maltodextrin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone, CI 16035
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 AcidGlycerin (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.
Learn more about GlycerinWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
