What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
