What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Limon Peel Powder
AbsorbentGlyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Dibehenate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Myristyl Glucoside
CleansingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dicaprylyl Ether, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Myristyl Alcohol, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Cetearyl Olivate, Citric Acid, Citrus Limon Peel Powder, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Myristyl Glucoside, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Tribehenin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Isohexadecane
EmollientZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine PCA
HumectantSerine
Masking
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Alumina
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Toluene Sulfonic Acid
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Panthenol, Silica, Isohexadecane, Zea Mays Starch, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Beeswax, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-20 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tin Oxide, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sorbitan Oleate, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine PCA, Serine, Myristic Acid, Alumina, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Citric Acid, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Toluene Sulfonic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, BHT, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, Mica
Reviews
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 GlycerinSodium 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 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
