What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Pullulan
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Resveratrol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bakuchiol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Bisabolol, Azelaic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Saccharide Isomerate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Propylene Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Lecithin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Caffeine, Sodium Bisulfite, Sodium Lactate, Pullulan, Sodium PCA, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 184
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex
Antioxidant
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Water, Poloxamer 184, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Coconut Alkanes, Propanediol, Betaine, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Bromelain, Papain, Squalane, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Phosphatidylcholine, Glycerin, Parfum, Panthenol, Isopentyldiol, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citral, Eugenol
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 AcidThis extract comes from cucumber. Cucumbers are mostly made up of water (95%), and the other 5% is composed of: vitamin C, caffeic acid, fatty acids, amino acids, and other minerals.
Cucumbers have anti-inflammatory, barrier repair, and hydrating properties.
They contain shikimate dehydrigenase, an enzyme shown to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin.
The amino acids found in cucumbers help nourish our skin's natural acid mantle (it's an important part of our skin barrier). This slightly acidic film acts as a barrier to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants.
Unless you have an allergy to cucumbers, this is generally a non-irritating ingredient.
Fun fact: Cucumis Sativus is native to South Asia and can now be found on every continent.
Learn more about Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
