What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Heptyl Glucoside
SurfactantIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Sulfone
SolventOrnithine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Copper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningMethylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCrocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-48
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHeptanol
Perfuming
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Heptyl Glucoside, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polysorbate 20, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Dimethyl Sulfone, Ornithine, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Crocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Pentapeptide-18, Pentapeptide-48, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Levulinic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Propanediol, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Heptanol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Human Bone Marrow Stem Cell Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Curcuma Wenyujin/Curcuma Kwangsiensis Rhizome Extract
AntiseborrhoeicAngelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Swertia Chirata Extract
HumectantPhyscomitrella Patens Protonema Extract
Skin ConditioningIsomalt
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDextran
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Maltodextrin, Saccharide Isomerate, Human Bone Marrow Stem Cell Conditioned Media, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Wenyujin/Curcuma Kwangsiensis Rhizome Extract, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Swertia Chirata Extract, Physcomitrella Patens Protonema Extract, Isomalt, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Lactic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mica, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dextran, Phospholipids, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 GlycerinMaltodextrin 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 MaltodextrinPhospholipids are a family of skin-identical lipids that makeup the structural backbone of every cell membrane in your body.
In cosmetics, they function as skin conditioning agents with emulsifier and surfactant properties. They're typically sourced from soybean or sunflower lecithin (or sometimes egg yolk or marine sources).
Because they mirror the lipids naturally found in the deeper layers of your skin, topical phospholipids help reinforce the lipid matrix, reduce transepidermal water loss, and leave skin feeling conditioned.
They're also used to form liposomes, or tiny self-assembling vesible used to stabilize actives like vitamin c or retinol. This helps these ingredients integrate into the upper layers of skin more easily.
Phospholipids are compatible with everything and the CIR Expert Panel has concluded them to be safe at current use levels.
Some types of phospholipids include:
Learn more about PhospholipidsPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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
