What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Nepeta Cataria Extract
TonicRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBaptisia Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningStellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract
AstringentUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Jasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, Arginine, Panthenol, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Citric Acid, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Nepeta Cataria Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Baptisia Tinctoria Root Extract, Stellaria Media Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Bakuchiol, Beta-Glucan, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Glycereth-7 Triacetate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Myristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentHydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycereth-18
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingDenatonium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Glycereth-7 Triacetate, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Dipropylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Gluconolactone, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Myristyl Nicotinate, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Adenosine, Asiaticoside, Ethoxydiglycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycereth-18, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calcium Gluconate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Limonene, Sodium Carbonate, Denatonium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 AcidDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneWater. 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
