Burt's Bees Renewal Firming Eye Cream Versus AHC Beauty Firming Ten Revolution Real Eye Cream For Face
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Bakuchiol and Tocopherol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This anti-aging eye moisturizer is formulated around Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract and Bifida Ferment Lysate to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTrifolium Pratense Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Communis Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Ribose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
P-Anisic Acid
MaskingPotassium Stearate
CleansingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax, Bakuchiol, Tocopherol, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Trifolium Pratense Leaf Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Plankton Extract, Phragmites Communis Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Stearic Acid, Ribose, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, P-Anisic Acid, Potassium Stearate, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lactic Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract
Skin Protecting
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Pentaerythrityl Stearate/Caprate/Caprylate/Adipate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Lycium Chinense Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Acmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingGossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Antioxidant
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Aestivum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Phaseolus Lunatus Seed Extract
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Oryza Sativa Germ Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Methylpropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate-13
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Vinyldimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Raffinose
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Laurate
CleansingInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHuman Tooth Pulp Stem Cell Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Collagen Water
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Schizosaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Cleansing
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingPotassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSqualane
Emollient
Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningCollagen
Moisturising
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate
Skin ProtectingTetrahydropiperine
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid Polypeptide
Antioxidant
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Mannitol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Rutin
Antioxidant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Histidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningOrnithine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Taurine
BufferingThreonine
Tryptophan
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingValine
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
3-Ascorbyl Carbonyl Dipeptide-17
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Dipeptide-17
Emollient
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningHeptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Glycine Soja Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Polypeptides
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Atelocollagen
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Sh-Nonapeptide-6
Skin Conditioning
R-Bovine Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantDipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Acetyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-2
Bleaching
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-6
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantThiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningMenadione
MaskingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-4
Antioxidant
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-14
Skin Protecting
Sh-Polypeptide-16
Skin Protecting
Sh-Polypeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Hydrolyzed Collagen Extract, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cyclohexasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Water, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Pentaerythrityl Stearate/Caprate/Caprylate/Adipate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Betaine, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lycium Chinense Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Collagen Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Triticum Aestivum Peptide, Phaseolus Lunatus Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Soluble Collagen, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Methylpropanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylate-13, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Vinyldimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Allantoin, Glycosyl Trehalose, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Raffinose, Cholesterol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, Micrococcus Lysate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lecithin, Propanediol, Ceramide NP, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Laurate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Lauric Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Tromethamine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Human Tooth Pulp Stem Cell Conditioned Media, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Collagen Water, Tocopheryl Acetate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Xylitylglucoside, Schizosaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Glycolipids, Sorbitan Laurate, Glucose, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Capryloyl Glycine, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Maltodextrin, Hexylene Glycol, Squalane, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Collagen, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Tetrahydropiperine, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Collagen Amino Acids, Mannitol, Lactic Acid, Sarcosine, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Rutin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Alanine, Arginine, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Citrulline, Cysteine, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Ornithine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Taurine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Tyrosine, Valine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, 3-Ascorbyl Carbonyl Dipeptide-17, Capryloyl Dipeptide-17, Acetyl Glutamine, Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Dipotassium Phosphate, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Pantothenic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Gluconolactone, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Palmitic Acid, Glycine Soja Peptide, Saccharomyces Polypeptides, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Stearic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Atelocollagen, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Capryloyl Sh-Nonapeptide-6, R-Bovine Polypeptide-1, Avena Sativa Peptide, Glycine Max Polypeptide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Calcium Gluconate, Dipeptide-2, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Acetyl Tripeptide-1, Nonapeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-2, Hexapeptide-9, Tripeptide-2, Dipeptide-1, Pentapeptide-3, Tripeptide-3, Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl, Dipeptide-4, Oligopeptide-6, Retinyl Palmitate, Biotin, Ascorbic Acid, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Menadione, Myristic Acid, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-4, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-14, Sh-Polypeptide-16, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinSodium 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 BenzoateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
