What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningViola Odorata Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Allantoin, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Palmitate, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Sorbitol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Viola Odorata Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Water, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Saccharide Isomerate, Phenoxyethanol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium PCA, Allantoin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizingg properties. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Studies show higher concentrations of this ingredient can promote wound healing.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinCitric 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 is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
