What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventLaurylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicHyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBorago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMilk Protein Extract
Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Rice Bran/Saccharomyces/Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Ferment
Antioxidant
Bifida/Panax Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Extract
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Extract
Skin ConditioningRaphanus Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Seed Extract
BufferingZea Mays Kernel Extract
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVerbena Officinalis Leaf Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Nonfat Dry Milk
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cetyl Palmitate, Ceteareth-12, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Methylpropanediol, Laurylpyridinium Chloride, Allantoin, Betaine, Dimethyl Sulfone, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Leaf Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Milk Protein Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Rice Bran/Saccharomyces/Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Ferment, Bifida/Panax Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate, Bifida Ferment Extract, Citric Acid, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Brassica Campestris Extract, Raphanus Sativus Seed Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Verbena Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Disodium EDTA, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Nonfat Dry Milk
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidLactic 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 AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
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
