What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Grifola Frondosa Extract
Skin ConditioningLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Sterols
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Oil
Perfuming
Cordyceps Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientPerilla Frutescens Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagus Racemosus Root Extract
AntimicrobialWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
Masking
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-28
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Phytic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Squalane, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glycerin, Grifola Frondosa Extract, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Sterols, Curcuma Longa Root Oil, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Perilla Frutescens Extract, Asparagus Racemosus Root Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lecithin, Lysolecithin, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Beta-Sitosterol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Adenosine, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-28, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Cyclodextrin, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Poloxamer 184
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Trideceth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Citrate
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate
Antioxidant
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Poloxamer 184, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Isopropyl Alcohol, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Potassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate, CI 42090, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Paraffinum Liquidum, Tocopherol
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 AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol 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
