What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingSea Salt
Abrasive
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Maltodextrin, Bisabolol, Polysorbate 20, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Carrageenan, Sea Salt, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Farnesol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantHibbertia Scandens Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acacia Melanoxylon Leaf Extract
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Honey Extract
Humectant
Pyridoxine Tris-Hexyldecanoate
HumectantSantalum Spicatum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Ceteareth-25
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Oil
Astringent
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCaprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Betaine, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Mica, Hibbertia Scandens Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pyridoxine Hcl, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acacia Melanoxylon Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Allantoin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Honey Extract, Pyridoxine Tris-Hexyldecanoate, Santalum Spicatum Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Ceteareth-25, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Tin Oxide, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Maltodextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Behenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Copper Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Ceramide Ns, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Sodium Citrate, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cyanocobalamin, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, CI 77891, CI 77491
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 LimoneneMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. 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
