What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-34
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicMelatonin
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Betainate Acetate
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Olivate
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Betaine, Glycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-34, Ceramide NP, Phytosterols, Caffeine, Inositol, Sarcosine, Biotin, Melatonin, Polyglyceryl-3 Betainate Acetate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Potassium Olivate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Laureth-9
EmulsifyingPEG-8
HumectantParfum
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
PEG-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
PEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Ceteareth-25
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Betaine, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Ceramide Ng, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Laureth-9, PEG-8, Parfum, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, PEG-3 Distearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Ascorbic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Ceteareth-25, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Piroctone Olamine, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCitric 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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneSodium 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 BenzoateSodium Lauroyl Lactylate is the lauric acid sodium salt of lactyl lactate.
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate is an emulsifier and surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. They do this by preventing ingredients from separating, such as oils and water which do not mix naturally. Surfactants reduce surface tension, making it easier to rinse pollutants off skin.
Due to its relation to lauric acid, it may provide antimicrobial benefits.
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl LactylateWater. 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
