What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Phytic Acid
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIron Oxides
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Water, Citrus Grandis Peel, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Phytic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Iron Oxides, Jojoba Esters, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Coco-Sulfate
Cleansing
Pumice
Abrasive
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Juglans Regia Shell Powder
Abrasive
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLauramide Dipa
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Pumice, Charcoal Powder, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Lauramide Dipa, Propanediol, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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
