What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSucrose Stearate
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientOlus Oil
EmollientDipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate
EmulsifyingHydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides
EmollientC20-40 Alcohols
EmulsifyingIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCera Alba
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantRetinol
Skin ConditioningDaphne Odora Callus Extract
Skin ProtectingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantNicotiana Sylvestris Leaf Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningPlumeria Rubra Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantUbiquinone
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantBenzoic Acid
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingGlycerin, Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose Stearate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Olus Oil, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, C20-40 Alcohols, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cera Alba, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Cellulose Gum, Parfum, CI 77891, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, PEG-8, Caramel, Tocopherol, Retinol, Daphne Odora Callus Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Nicotiana Sylvestris Leaf Cell Culture, Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract, CI 15985, Ubiquinone, Lecithin, CI 19140, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, CI 17200, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Benzoic Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Eugenol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylamide
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeTaurine
BufferingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientArginine
MaskingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantLespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Taurine, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Arginine, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laureth-7, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Glycine, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol 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