What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates Copolymer
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientChondrus Crispus
Masking
Sea Water
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
Algin
Masking
Agar
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Chloride
Sucrose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Kjellmaniella Gyrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactose
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingJania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Water, Lactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus, Sea Water, Betaine, Algin, Agar, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Chloride, Sucrose, Caprylyl Glycol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Kjellmaniella Gyrata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactose, Lactobacillus Ferment, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Madecassoside
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
Perfuming
Mannose
HumectantP-Anisic Acid
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Limonene, Mannose, P-Anisic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Reviews
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 AcidDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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
