What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPalmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientVitis Vinifera Juice
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeMyristyl Malate Phosphonic Acid
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Caprylyl Glycol, Squalane, Vitis Vinifera Juice, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Citric Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate, Myristyl Malate Phosphonic Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveBentonite
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAlcohol
AntimicrobialSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingCoffea Robusta Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCupressus Sempervirens Oil
MaskingSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCommiphora Myrrha Oil
MaskingSantalum Album Oil
MaskingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingPapain
Skin ConditioningPetroselinum Crispum Seed Oil
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingAlgin
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Kaolin, Bentonite, Glycerin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 77491, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Limonene, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Linalool, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Coffea Robusta Seed Extract, Carbomer, Cupressus Sempervirens Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, CI 77499, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Santalum Album Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Papain, Petroselinum Crispum Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Algin, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCitric 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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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