What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Perlite
Absorbent
Pumice
Abrasive
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Glucuronic Acid
Buffering
Xylitol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Water, Propanediol, Perlite, Pumice, Gluconolactone, Parfum, Geraniol, Limonene, Glycerin, Rhamnose, Glucomannan, Glucose, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Glucuronic Acid, Xylitol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Panthenol, Cyanocobalamin, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningPumice
Abrasive
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Pumice, Glycolic Acid, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Sodium Hydroxide, Jojoba Esters, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Dimethicone, Salicylic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Bisabolol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Steareth-20, Xanthan Gum, Steareth-21, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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.
Pumice is an exfoliant.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
