What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Citrus Limon Fruit Water
MaskingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Cymbopogon Citratus Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningArginine PCA
HumectantGlucose
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Squalene
Emollient
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Citrus Limon Fruit Water, C14-22 Alcohols, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Cymbopogon Citratus Extract, Maris Sal, Arginine PCA, Glucose, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Squalene, Beta-Sitosterol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract
AntiseborrhoeicAcetyl Hexapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Bud Extract
HumectantArctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Geranium Maculatum Extract
TonicCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Lactic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract, Xanthan Gum, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Propanediol, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-30, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Bud Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Limonene, Citral, Hydroxycitronellal
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
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 CitralGlycerin (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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
