What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tapioca Starch
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingParfum
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Epilobium Fleischeri Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantLapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Betaine, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tapioca Starch, Glycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Silica, Citric Acid, Epilobium Fleischeri Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 42090, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Maris Sal
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
Emollient
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCarrageenan
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Levulinate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Carrageenan, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sodium Anisate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Levulinic Acid, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
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 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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
