What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialCarnitine Hcl
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingFarnesol
PerfumingGlycolic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingAdipic Acid
BufferingFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentPhytic Acid
Siraitia Grosvenorii Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentBisabolol
MaskingPentasodium Pentetate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialQuercetin
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPanthenol
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingIsopropyl Jojobate
EmollientJojoba Alcohol
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingOctoxynol-9
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasiveVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingTriethyl Citrate
MaskingFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
MaskingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoriandrum Sativum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Butylene Glycol, Mandelic Acid, Carnitine Hcl, Salicylic Acid, Farnesol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Adipic Acid, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Phytic Acid, Siraitia Grosvenorii Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Bisabolol, Pentasodium Pentetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hexylresorcinol, Quercetin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Panthenol, Urea, Isopropyl Jojobate, Jojoba Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Retinol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Hydroxide, Octoxynol-9, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Rose Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Coriandrum Sativum Seed Extract, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventGlycolic Acid
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPEG-30 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPhytic Acid
Polyquaternium-10
Parfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol Denat., Propanediol, Glycolic Acid, Niacinamide, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Citric Acid, PEG-30 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Maltodextrin, Phytic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethyl Isosorbide is a solvent and helps deliver actives into your skin. It is created from sorbitol.
As a solvent, dimethyl isosorbide helps dissolve other ingredients. This helps ensure even distribution of an ingredient. It may also be used to decrease the thickness of a product.
Studies show dimethyl isosorbide is able to penetrate skin to deliver other ingredients into the skin, making them more effective.
Learn more about Dimethyl IsosorbideGlycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
AHAs work by breaking down the structural “glue” that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (that’s where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.
Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But don’t skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.
Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless you’re highly sensitive, it’s well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidPhytic Acid is a gentle AHA and antioxidant. AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells. Phytic Acid has a slight and mild exfoliating effect.
The chemical makeup makes it classified as an AHA, much like lactic acid.
In some cases, it is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water, helping to stabilize the ingredients in a product.
An interesting fact about phytic acid is that it is considered an antinutrient. People do not have the enzyme needed to properly breakdown and digest phytic acid. When ingested, phytic acid binds to minerals and prevents them from being absorbed.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Phytic AcidWater. 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