What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Quaternium-60
Glycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantThiamine Hcl
MaskingLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Quaternium-60, Glycerin, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Niacinamide, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Dextrin, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Gluconolactone, Kojic Acid, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Phospholipids, Retinol, Biotin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Hexyl Nicotinate
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Gellan Gum
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycolic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Hexyl Nicotinate, Dextrin, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Gellan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
Alternatives
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 AcidDextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
