What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract
AntiseborrhoeicAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Diheptyl Succinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Sulfite
Water
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Maxima Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cellulose
Absorbent
Citrus Limon Peel Powder
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Powder
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Xylityl Sesquicaprylate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Corn Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Phytate
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Eugenol
Perfuming
CI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cucurbita Maxima Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cellulose, Citrus Limon Peel Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Powder, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bromelain, Papain, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycolipids, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Corn Oil, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Lactate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Maltodextrin, Sodium Phytate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Parfum, Eugenol, CI 40800, CI 14700
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.
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
