What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Squalane
Emollient
Ceramides
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Alpha-Methyl-Beta-Ionone
Perfuming
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingC13-15 Alkane
SolventMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Phytic Acid
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Farnesol
Perfuming
Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Santalum Album Wood Extract
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantSqualane, Ceramides, Bisabolol, Alpha-Methyl-Beta-Ionone, Water, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, C13-15 Alkane, Methyl Gluceth-20, C15-19 Alkane, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium PCA, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharide Isomerate, Malic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Phytic Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Farnesol, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Jojoba Esters, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Isoamyl Laurate, Isohexadecane, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycereth-26, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Rose Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891, Mica
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingSucrose Laurate
Emollient
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingFagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicTocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalene
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Sucrose Laurate, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Betula Alba Juice, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Water, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Citric Acid
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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
