What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract
AstringentCitrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract
EmollientJasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Isopropyl Shea Butterate
Emollient
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingDodecane
Emollient
Hexadecane
Perfuming
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citric Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Rose Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Decyl Glucoside, Isopropyl Shea Butterate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Dodecane, Hexadecane, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
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 AcidDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is below the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
