What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glucosamine Hcl
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ferulic Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glucosamine Hcl, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Tocopherol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium PCA
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Phytate
Arginine
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Calcium PCA, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Phytate, Arginine, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Salicylic Acid, Mica, CI 77891, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Citral, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum
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 GlycerinLimonene 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 LimonenePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
