What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Phytic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Algin
Masking
Alanyl Glutamine
HumectantArginine
Masking
Oligopeptide-177
Phenylalanine
Masking
Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Salicylic Acid, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Papain, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Algin, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Oligopeptide-177, Phenylalanine, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingTheanine
EmollientMethylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Erythritol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xylitol
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water
MaskingHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantBenzoic Acid
Masking
Prunus Speciosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFructose
Humectant
Isodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningPEG-30 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Trisodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, PEG-8, Trehalose, Phenoxyethanol, Methyl Gluceth-10, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Theanine, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Erythritol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyquaternium-51, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Citric Acid, Xylitol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Parfum, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Serine, Glycine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, Hydrolyzed Silk, CI 15985, Tocopherol, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, CI 19140, Benzoic Acid, Prunus Speciosa Leaf Extract, Fructose, Isodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, PEG-30 Phytosterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Trisodium EDTA
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.
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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinSodium 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
