What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Disodium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIngredients 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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
