What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate
EmollientResveratrol
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Maltitol
HumectantLeontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xylitol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentSodium Phytate
Glucose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Alanyl Glutamine
HumectantArginine
Masking
Oligopeptide-177
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
Masking
Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cellulose, Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate, Resveratrol, Squalane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Maltitol, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Lecithin, Anhydroxylitol, Citric Acid, Xylitol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Punica Granatum Extract, Sodium Phytate, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Oligopeptide-177, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Chloride, Phenylalanine, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Isocetyl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Sucrose Dilaurate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Myristyl Glucoside
CleansingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSucrose Palmitate
EmollientGlycogen
HumectantPullulan
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Isohexadecane
EmollientLysolecithin
EmulsifyingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hexamidine Diisethionate
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Chloride
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Phytic Acid
Squalene
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Calcium Chloride
AstringentBHA
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingCI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetate
BufferingLysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Alanine
Masking
Histidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningTryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Cystine
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Ornithine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantMethionine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Coenzyme A
Skin ConditioningSodium Glucuronate
HumectantThiamine Diphosphate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Niacin
SmoothingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCalcium Pantothenate
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Isocetyl Stearate, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Maltodextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Mannitol, Lecithin, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Lauroyl Lysine, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Sucrose Dilaurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Myristyl Glucoside, Sclerotium Gum, Sucrose Palmitate, Glycogen, Pullulan, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Isohexadecane, Lysolecithin, Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Glyceryl Linoleate, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Pisum Sativum Extract, Sodium Chloride, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Hexamidine Diisethionate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Silica, Trihydroxystearin, Niacinamide, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Polysorbate 60, Ceramide NP, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glucose, Phenoxyethanol, Bisabolol, BHT, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Potassium Chloride, Beta-Sitosterol, Phytic Acid, Squalene, Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Chloride, BHA, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Magnesium Sulfate, Glutamine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Sodium Phosphate, CI 15510, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Lysine Hcl, Arginine Hcl, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Alanine, Histidine Hcl, Valine, Leucine, Threonine, Isoleucine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Glycine, Polysorbate 80, Glucomannan, Serine, Cystine, Cyanocobalamin, Glutathione, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Ornithine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Proline, CI 17200, Methionine, Taurine, Hydroxyproline, Glucosamine Hcl, Coenzyme A, Sodium Glucuronate, Thiamine Diphosphate, Retinyl Acetate, Inositol, Niacin, Pyridoxine Hcl, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid
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
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 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPhenylalanine is an amino acid. It is a skin soothing and hydrating ingredient. Amino acids play a crucial role in wound healing and skin hydration.
This ingredient is also used to help even out skin tone due to its ability to disrupt the melanin production process.
Two structures of phenylalanine exist: L-phenylalanine and D-phenylalanine. L-phenylalanine is essential, this means our bodies cannot produce it naturally and we must get it from foods. Our bodies convert D-phenylalanine to neurotransmitters, and D-phenylalanine is found in our bodies naturally.
Some foods that contain L-phenylalanine include eggs, soybeans, beef, milk.
Learn more about PhenylalaninePotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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 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
