What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
CI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Diglycerin
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Powder
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Protease
Exfoliating
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Oryza Sativa Seed Protein
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch, CI 77004, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Diglycerin, Allantoin, Water, Maltodextrin, Papain, Oryza Sativa Powder, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Ascorbic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Glucose, Oryza Sativa Extract, Protease, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Tartaric Acid, Lactic Acid, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chrysanthemum Sinense Flower Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Viscum Album Leaf Extract
SoothingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glucose
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Malus Domestica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Sinense Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Viscum Album Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Phytosterols, Ethylhexylglycerin, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Panthenol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Squalane, Glucose, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Papain, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Madecassoside, Citric Acid, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Reviews
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 AcidGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinPapain is a proteolytic enzyme extracted from unripe papaya fruit. It is a gentle exfoliator that helps remove the dead skin cells from your outermost layer of skin.
Basically, papain works by dissolving the "glue" holding dead skin cells to your skin's surface. This also promotes cell turnover and smooths texture.
Unlike other exfoliants, papain can work without causing significant irritation.
Beyond exfoliation, its proteolytic action also helps soothe irritated skin and supports the healing of minor wounds.
A 2024 in vivo/in vitro study confirmed its potential to suppress skin inflammation and improve transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in atopic dermatitis models.
Just one thing worth noting: there are reports of allergic responses in individuals with a papaya or latex sensitivity. Be sure to patch test if you're in this camp.
Learn more about PapainWater. 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
