What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAlanyl Glutamine
HumectantArginine
Masking
Oligopeptide-177
Phenylalanine
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tapioca Starch, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Propanediol, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Maltodextrin, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Sodium Lactate, Xanthan Gum, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Oligopeptide-177, Phenylalanine, Potassium Sorbate, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer
Potassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Oil
Emollient
Beheneth-20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil
Emollient
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
Perfuming
Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Serine
Masking
Inositol
Humectant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantRetinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potentilla Erecta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTheanine
EmollientRosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract
TonicSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Rubus Suavissimus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Isododecane, Dipropylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Microcrystalline Wax, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Trehalose, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethylacrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Beheneth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Myristyl Myristate, Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Citrate, BHT, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Parfum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid, Sodium Metaphosphate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, CI 77492, Limonene, Linalool, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Geraniol, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Serine, Inositol, CI 77491, Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Potentilla Erecta Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Zea Mays Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Theanine, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Benzoic Acid, Hydrolyzed Silk, Rubus Suavissimus Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
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 GlycerinOlive tree leaves contain more antioxidants than olive fruit.
This is due to its rich flavonoid and polyphenol content. However, the antioxidant content varies depending on plant variety, harvesting method, leaf maturity, and extraction method.
This ingredient also has a natural fragrance. Read more about fragrance in cosmetics here.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Leaf ExtractSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
