What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Zinc Laurate
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Limonene
Perfuming
Lecithin
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Coco-Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Oleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Zinc Laurate, Sodium Benzoate, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Limonene, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Fructooligosaccharides, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Sodium Chloride, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Decylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Sodium Benzoate, Hexylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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 AcidDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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
