What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPPG-3 Myristyl Ether
EmollientEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropanediol
SolventTromethamine
BufferingSilybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantEscin
TonicChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPersea Gratissima Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientKalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentMaltodextrin
AbsorbentOrthosiphon Stamineus Extract
Skin ConditioningHedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingMangifera Indica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantJania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingEngelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCallicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, PPG-3 Myristyl Ether, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Escin, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Squalane, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Persea Gratissima Oil Unsaponifiables, Caramel, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Orthosiphon Stamineus Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Mangifera Indica Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Jania Rubens Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Engelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract, CI 14700, Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Eos
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCaprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningCaprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPrunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLauryl Laurate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Trehalose
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantAgar
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCeteareth-25
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Rosinate
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Diheptyl Succinate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Ceramide AP, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Glyceryl Behenate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Trehalose, Isohexadecane, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Agar, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-25, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Glyceryl Rosinate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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 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