What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingParfum
Masking
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Xylitylglucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Xylitol, Anhydroxylitol, Urea, Zinc PCA, Tocopherol, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Capryloyl Glycine, Parfum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycerin
Humectant
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingMagnesium Sulfate
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Methylpropanediol
SolventSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Oxidized Corn Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Sulfate
Silanetriol
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantGlucose
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Beeswax, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Homosalate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Cyclopentasiloxane, Bisabolol, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Tocopherol, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Phenethyl Alcohol, Magnesium Sulfate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Methylpropanediol, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oxidized Corn Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Dimethicone, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, CI 19140, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, T-Butyl Alcohol, CI 14700, Maltodextrin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Sulfate, Silanetriol, BHT, CI 17200, Glucose, Salicylic Acid, CI 42090, Sodium Hydroxide, Chondrus Crispus Extract
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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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
