What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-70
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitrus Reticulata Peel Oil
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLimonene
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientMalic Acid
BufferingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingPanicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTilia Tomentosa Bud Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingWater, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Pvp, Decyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Gluconolactone, Polysorbate 20, Lactic Acid, Polyquaternium-70, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Limonene, Citric Acid, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Malic Acid, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tilia Tomentosa Bud Extract, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeDistearyldimonium Chloride
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingParfum
MaskingIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyquaternium-55
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropylgluconamide
HumectantHydroxypropylammonium Gluconate
HumectantPolyquaternium-68
Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialBrassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Stearic Acid, Parfum, Isoamyl Laurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyquaternium-55, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Polyquaternium-68, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, CI 17200
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 GlycerinRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract comes from rosemary. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean.
While Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil can be volatile due to its fragrant properties, the fragrance components are usually removed in the leaf extract.
Rosemary Leaf Extract contains many antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid. Rosemarinic acid, a compound found in rosemary leaf, has been found to help soothe skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractSodium 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.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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