What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Hydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Amylopectin
Cetearyl Olivate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Xylitol
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Hesperidin
EmollientPolysilicone-11
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingLaureth-12
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xylitylglucoside, Retinol, Tocopherol, Sodium Ascorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Arginine, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Threonine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, PCA, Sodium PCA, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Amylopectin, Cetearyl Olivate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xylitol, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Lactate, Hesperidin, Polysilicone-11, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Laureth-12, Betaine, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Resveratrol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Sodium Metabisulfite, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lactate
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 GlycerinPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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
