What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Emollient
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipropylene Glycol, Sorbitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gluconolactone, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Canarium Luzonicum Gum Nonvolatiles
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningRhus Semialata Gall Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningOxygen
Skin ConditioningWater, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Betaine Salicylate, Sodium Citrate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Canarium Luzonicum Gum Nonvolatiles, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Oxygen
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 AcidDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
