What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Decurrens Extract
AstringentRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAverrhoa Carambola Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNephelium Lappaceum Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Spirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Viola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
PEG-75 Stearate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl Oleate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalcium Alginate
MaskingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPolyquaternium-10
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Gluconic Acid
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xylitol
Humectant
3-Hexenol
Masking
Sodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Propanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Betaine, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Acacia Decurrens Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Averrhoa Carambola Fruit Extract, Nephelium Lappaceum Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triethyl Citrate, PEG-75 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Phytosteryl Oleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, C12-13 Pareth-3, Caprylyl Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calcium Alginate, Jojoba Esters, Aminomethyl Propanol, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Gluconic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Phytosterols, Sodium Benzoate, Xylitol, 3-Hexenol, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
