What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingHexyldecanol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Fructooligosaccharides, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Carnosine, Adenosine, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Hexyldecanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pyrus Malus Seed Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Tocopherol, Parfum
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 AcidFructooligosaccharides (FOS) are a type of prebiotic sugar with humectant and skin conditioning properties. As a humectant, they help attract and hold moisture in the skin.
FOS essentially acts as a food source for the "good" bacteria on your skin and make it harder for "bad" bacteria to thrive. A 2022 study using a reconstructured human skin model found that just 1% of FOS was enough to shift the bacteria balance in favor of beneficial species. This suggests it could help support a healthier skin microbiome over time.
This ingredient has a low sensitization risk and testing shows it does not classify as a skin irritant or sensitizer.
FOS are usually produced from sugar beets and can also be found in foods like bananas, garlic, and onions.
Learn more about FructooligosaccharidesSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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
