What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Dihydroxyacetone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningDihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butane
Isobutane
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Propane
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantParfum
Masking
Erythrulose
TanningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Terpineol
Masking
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Geranyl Acetate
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dihydroxyacetone, Propanediol, Butane, Isobutane, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Propane, Phenoxyethanol, Ethoxydiglycol, Parfum, Erythrulose, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Saccharide Isomerate, Mica, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Terpineol, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Geranyl Acetate, CI 77891
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 AcidDihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is the active ingredient in self-tanners.
It's a simply sugar that reacts with the free amino acids in your outermost layer of skin to produce brown-colored compounds called melanoidins.
DHA does not penetrate living skin cells, does not interact with melanocytes, and does not affect actualy melanin production.
There's a "safety controversy" that largely stems from misinterpreted studies:
Once concern is that DHA can generate unstable molecules that can damage cells (free radicals) when exposed to sunlight. This only happens in the outermost layer of dead skin cells and wearing SPF on top takes care of it.
The DNA damage claim comes from lab studies that doused living skin cells in much higher concentrations of DHA than you'd ever find in a self-tanner. That's not really a meaningful comparison to putting self-tanning lotion on your skin.
Regulatory bodies around the world, including the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and the U.S. FDA consider it safe for use in cosmetics when applied topically (maximum 10%, and most self-tanners contain between 3-5%).
Learn more about DihydroxyacetoneEthoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.
Learn more about EthoxydiglycolGlycerin (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 LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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 metabisulfite is also known as Sodium Pyrosulfite. It is a preservative, antioxidant, and disinfectant.
As a preservative, it helps stabilize cosmetic formulas without affecting their color or scent.
Water. 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
