What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantEmpetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingCupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract
PerfumingPolygonatum Multiflorum Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinyl Glucoside
AntioxidantCaffeyl Glucoside
AntioxidantGallyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Empetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice, Pentylene Glycol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract, Polygonatum Multiflorum Rhizome/Root Extract, Plankton Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinyl Glucoside, Caffeyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Glycine
CleansingNeopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingLactose
HumectantLactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentFarnesyl Acetate
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingPanthenyl Triacetate
Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningMarrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ProtectingLecithin
EmollientOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingPEG-35 Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer/Papain Crosspolymer
Tocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Algin
Neopentyl Glycol Diisostearate
EmulsifyingAlgin
MaskingGalactoarabinan
Schizophyllan
HumectantPEG-12 Glyceryl Laurate
EmulsifyingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Maltodextrin
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Palmitoyl Glycine, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Lactose, Lactis Proteinum, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Farnesyl Acetate, Farnesol, Panthenyl Triacetate, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture, Lecithin, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Carbomer/Papain Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Neopentyl Glycol Diisostearate, Algin, Galactoarabinan, Schizophyllan, PEG-12 Glyceryl Laurate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Disodium EDTA, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, 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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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