What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingVegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Thiosulfate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Vegetable Oil, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Thiosulfate, Sodium Citrate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingColloidal Gold
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLecithin
Emollient
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLeucojum Aestivum Bulb Extract
Skin ProtectingPullulan
Hydrolyzed Pinus Sibirica Seedcake Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingMenthane Carboxamide Ethylpyridine
Menthyl PCA
HumectantLactamide Mea
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate, Saccharide Isomerate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Colloidal Gold, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lecithin, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Leucojum Aestivum Bulb Extract, Pullulan, Hydrolyzed Pinus Sibirica Seedcake Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Mica, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tin Oxide, CI 77492, CI 77891, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Menthane Carboxamide Ethylpyridine, Menthyl PCA, Lactamide Mea, Sodium Citrate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool
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 GlycerinSaccharide Isomerate comes from sugars found in corn. It is a skin hydrator.
The structure of this ingredient can be altered to be more similar to the carbohydrates found in our skin. This ability to mimic our skin gives it hydrating properties.
Specifically, saccharide Isomerate is a humectant. Humectants draw moisture from the air to our skin.
Research shows Saccharide Isomerate to be an effective moisturizer.
Learn more about Saccharide IsomerateSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol 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 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
