What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Japonica Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate
Emulsion Stabilising
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventEthoxydiglycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingLecithin
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Japonica Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Glucose, Bisabolol, Squalane, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C14-22 Alcohols, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Citrate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethoxydiglycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Limonene
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel, Water, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimonenePhenoxyethanol 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 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 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
