What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Winterianus Herb Oil
Perfuming
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
MaskingSerine
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Hedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialMalva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningParietaria Officinalis Extract
EmollientSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-4
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ricinoleth-40
CleansingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Arginine, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Cymbopogon Winterianus Herb Oil, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Parietaria Officinalis Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-4, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Ricinoleth-40, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Oleth-20
CleansingSodium Chloride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Methylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingLinalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Glucose
Humectant
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Zinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialSorbic Acid
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Water, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Oleth-20, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Parfum, Sodium Citrate, Panthenol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Glucose, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Zinc Sulfate, Sorbic Acid, CI 19140, CI 42090, Silica
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 AcidLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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 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 CitrateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
