What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientClay Mineral Oxides
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Montmorillonite
AbsorbentIllite
Abrasive
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Clay Mineral Oxides, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Kaolin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Diheptyl Succinate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Montmorillonite, Illite, Acacia Senegal Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningDiatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
C15-19 Alkane
SolventIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBromelain
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Papain
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-6
HumectantZingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCurcuma Longa Root Powder
Skin ConditioningHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Diatomaceous Earth, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, C15-19 Alkane, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bromelain, Sodium Phytate, Papain, Polyglycerin-6, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Curcuma Longa Root Powder, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
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. 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
