What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract
SmoothingCaprae Lac
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGellan Gum
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Lactobionic Acid, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Solanum Tuberosum Pulp Extract, Caprae Lac, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Gellan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Caramel, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol
PEG-6
HumectantSodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Disteareth-100 Ipdi
Cellulose
AbsorbentSilica
Abrasive
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Abrasive
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Beheneth-5
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLinalool
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
PEG-6, Sodium Bicarbonate, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Disteareth-100 Ipdi, Cellulose, Silica, Synthetic Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Retinol, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycine Soja Oil, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, BHT, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Saccharide Isomerate, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Beheneth-5, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Linalool, Eugenol, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidTocopherol (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 skinâs 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
