What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Piperonyl Glucoside
Skin ProtectingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
PEG-75 Stearate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide NP, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Piperonyl Glucoside, Jojoba Esters, Polyglycerin-3, PEG-75 Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water
MaskingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Cola Nitida Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pentylene Glycol, C14-22 Alcohols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Avena Sativa Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Cola Nitida Seed Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum
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 GlycerinWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
