What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Squalane
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
Antioxidant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTartaric Acid
Buffering
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Papain
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Algin
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triheptanoin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Silica, Squalane, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, C15-19 Alkane, Glycolic Acid, Bisabolol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Arginine, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Tartaric Acid, Polyglycerin-6, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, Glucose, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Carbomer, Sodium Phytate, Papain, 1,2-Hexanediol, Algin, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides
Emollient
Phoenix Dactylifera Seed
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lactose
HumectantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Mannitol
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
PEG-800
HumectantBromelain
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-45
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-8
Humectant
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Ceteareth-12, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Jojoba Esters, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Mannitol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, PEG-800, Bromelain, Papain, Ascorbic Acid, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Polypeptide-45, Sh-Polypeptide-8, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, CI 77007
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCitrus Limon Peel Oil is created from the peels of the lemon. It is used to add a lemon-scent to products. Lemon peel oil also has antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. However, it may also cause phototoxicity and sensitize skin.
Lemon peel oil contains limonene, a skin sensitizing ingredient. Another component is furanocoumarin, which induces phototoxicity in skin.
Furanocoumarins bind and destabilize your DNA to increase the rate of sunburn.
Most reputable companies will remove furanocoumarins from their formulations.
Learn more about Citrus Limon Peel OilGlycerin (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 GlycerinPapain is a proteolytic enzyme extracted from unripe papaya fruit. It is a gentle exfoliator that helps remove the dead skin cells from your outermost layer of skin.
Basically, papain works by dissolving the "glue" holding dead skin cells to your skin's surface. This also promotes cell turnover and smooths texture.
Unlike other exfoliants, papain can work without causing significant irritation.
Beyond exfoliation, its proteolytic action also helps soothe irritated skin and supports the healing of minor wounds.
A 2024 in vivo/in vitro study confirmed its potential to suppress skin inflammation and improve transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in atopic dermatitis models.
Just one thing worth noting: there are reports of allergic responses in individuals with a papaya or latex sensitivity. Be sure to patch test if you're in this camp.
Learn more about PapainWater. 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
