What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventStreptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingHonokiol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
C12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingWater, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Betaine, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Honokiol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Polyquaternium-51, Pyrus Malus Juice, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Tocopherol, Ethoxydiglycol, Octyldodecanol, Asiaticoside, Glycolipids, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C12-13 Alketh-9
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientC20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water
MaskingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Parfum
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Squalane, Octyldodecyl Myristate, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Bisabolol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water, Saccharide Isomerate, Niacinamide, Parfum, Carbomer, Silica, CI 77891, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mica, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Tin Oxide, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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 GlycerinSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
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
