What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Benzyl Salicylate, Water
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Sorbitol, C15-19 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Citric Acid, Polyglycerin-6, Tocopheryl Acetate
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate is a plant-derived emulsifier whose only job is to keep the oily and watery parts of a formula blended so it doesn't separate into layers.
It's compatible with a wide-range of active ingredients and especially good at making emulsions survive heat/freeze cycles.
Typical use concentrations range from 2-3% and it works across a pH of 4.5-8.5.
This ingredient has been found safe to use in cosmetics and has a low irritation profile.
Because it's build on stearic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. Stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that falls within the range (C11-24) that Malassezia can feed on.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose DistearateWater. 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
