What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sucrose Laurate
Emollient
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningIpomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Water, Squalane, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sucrose Laurate, Sucrose Stearate, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sucrose Palmitate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriolein
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sea Water
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
