What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCellulose
AbsorbentEthylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate
EmollientResveratrol
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientMaltitol
HumectantLeontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantXylitylglucoside
HumectantLecithin
EmollientAnhydroxylitol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingXylitol
HumectantHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentSodium Phytate
Glucose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAlanyl Glutamine
HumectantArginine
MaskingOligopeptide-177
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingSisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
MaskingWater, 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
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientAdansonia Digitata Oil
EmollientSucrose Laurate
EmollientLeontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
AntioxidantLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingNiacinamide
SmoothingBakuchiol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Water, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Adansonia Digitata Oil, Sucrose Laurate, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Bakuchiol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride
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 GlycerinThis ingredient (LACCE) is a plant cell derived from the alpine plant, edelweiss. It is a humectant with antioxidant and skin protecting properties.
In-vitro and in-vivo research shows LACCE to exhibit strong antioxidant effects, including protecting skin against UVB induced stress. It also appears to support collagen production, improved skin elasticity, and wrinkle reduction.
Clinical application in humans shows topical use of LACCE can improve periorbital wrinkles (around the eyes), dermal density, and skin elasticity.
Cellular studies also suggest potential anti-inflammatory effects and upregulation of genes associated with barrier formation.
As with many plant extracts, a small number of people may experience sensitivity due to allergies.
Learn more about Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture ExtractChances 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 ChlorideWater. 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