What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-90
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Blue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantParaffin
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bentonite
Absorbent
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentasodium Triphosphate
BufferingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Maltitol
HumectantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientParfum
Masking
Cetyl Caprate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraoleate
EmollientCI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Aroma
Polyquaternium-11
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Petrolatum
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Kaolin
Abrasive
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PEG-250 Distearate
CleansingPotassium Hydroxycitrate
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Polypropylene
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Disodium EDTA
Diglycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ceteth-20
CleansingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Water, CI 60730, PEG-90, Sodium Benzoate, Blue 1 Lake, Paraffin, Panthenol, Bentonite, Pvp, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentasodium Triphosphate, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Synthetic Wax, Glycerin, Maltitol, CI 17200, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Parfum, Cetyl Caprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraoleate, CI 15510, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone, Aroma, Polyquaternium-11, Isopentyldiol, Microcrystalline Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Petrolatum, Citric Acid, Kaolin, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Alcohol Denat., PEG-250 Distearate, Potassium Hydroxycitrate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Polypropylene, CI 15985, Beeswax, Disodium EDTA, Diglycerin, Stearic Acid, Cyclomethicone, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ceteth-20, Disodium Phosphate, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Copernicia Cerifera Wax
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
