What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Maltose
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Propanediol, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Fructose, Glucose, Glycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Maltose, Panthenol, Parfum, Pentylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sphingolipids, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol, Trehalose, Urea, Hydroxyacetophenone, P-Anisic Acid, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
