What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialProline
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingDextran
Water, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycerin, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Collagen Amino Acids, Lysine Hcl, Mannitol, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Anisate, Proline, Glycine, Arginine, Leucine, Citric Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Dextran
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Glycerin, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Levulinate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Collagen Amino Acids, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Citrate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidCollagen amino acids are naturally found in the outermost layer of your skin.Your body uses amino acids to build collagen and elastin.
Due to their tiny size, amino acids are able to be absorbed into the skin. They mostly play a role in keeping your skin hydrated and reinforcing your NMF (natural moisturizing factors).
Glycerin (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 GlycerinLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural preservative. It comes from fermenting radish roots with a bacteria called leuconostoc. The trade name for this ingredient is Leucidal.
Leuconostoc comes from lactic acid.
This ingredient has antimicrobial properties and helps prevent the growth of bacteria in a product.
Leuconostoc is used to make the traditional Korean side-dish, kimchi. It is also used to make sourdough bread (both incredibly yummy foods).
Learn more about Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltrateThis synthetic peptide is created from lysine, valine, and palmitic acid.
According to the manufacturer, in-vitro studies show tissue growth and collagen synthesis. Another in-vivo study found 60 volunteers saw a significant reduction in wrinkles after 84 days.
Due to its palmitic acid base, this peptide may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5Sodium levulinate is the a sodium salt of Levulinic Acid. Oncedissolved in an aqueous solution, the two ingredients become identical. It is usually derived from renewable plant sources like corn starch or sugarcane.
In skincare, it mostly acts as a skin conditioning agent that keeps skin soft and hydrated. It also acts as a preservative booster by inhibiting the growth of mold, yeast, and bacteria.
It's often paired with Sodium Anisate as the two create a broad-spectrum preservative system that is popular in "natural" formulations.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be non-irritated and there are no restrictions for use in EU cosmetics. The FDA also allows this ingredient to be used as a food-grade flavoring agent.
Learn more about Sodium LevulinateWater. 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
