What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Extract
HumectantAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Malic Acid
Buffering
Silica
Abrasive
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Parfum, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Malic Acid, Silica, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningIsoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Isosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Water
MaskingSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cetraria Islandica Thallus Extract
HumectantPolypodium Vulgare Rhizome Extract
HumectantSphagnum Magellanicum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Pullulan
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingLactic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Arginine
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water, Water, Isoamyl Laurate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Betaine, Glycerin, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Water, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sucrose Stearate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cetraria Islandica Thallus Extract, Polypodium Vulgare Rhizome Extract, Sphagnum Magellanicum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Ubiquinone, Pullulan, Lysolecithin, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Silica, Maltodextrin, Arginine, 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.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is made when the Lactobacillus bacteria (the same kind that makes yogurt and kimchi) are allowed to ferment a nutrient medium.
As it ferments, it collects lactic acid, peptides, enzymes, and other bioactive metabolites to provide:
A 2023 review noted that probiotic fermentation ingredients like this one can enhance antioxidant capacity, reduce UV-induced oxidative damage, and support barrier function.
One clinical study from the same year showed a Lactobacillus ferment lysate significantly reduced transepidermal water loss and improved skin hydration.
Another review highlighted that topical Lactobacillus-based preparations can improve ceramide levels in the stratum corneum, support barrier integrity, and even help reduce S. aureus colonization in atopic dermatitis.
Why is this so cool?
Basically, your skin's outer layer works as a brick wall; skin cells are bricks and ceramides are the mortar holding it together. Moisture escapes, irritants get in, and your skin gets dry and reactive when ceramide levels drop. On top of that, "bad" skin bacteria S. aureus loves to move in when your barrier is weak to make inflammation and irritation worse.
So Lactobacillus ferment is basically patching the wall and evicting the troublemaker when it boosts ceramide production and help keep S. aureus in check.
On top of all this, it also acts as a mild antimicrobial preservative booster.
Just so you know, most studies focus on specific strains or the lysate form rather than this generic "Lactobacillus Ferment", so results can vary.
Though it's a promising ingredient, it doesn't have decades of robust clinical data behind it just yet.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus FermentLactobacillus Ferment Lysate is a postbiotic with skin soothing properties. Postbiotics are inactive molecules produced by probiotic bacteria that provide skin benefits.
This ingredient comes from the secretion of the bacteria, Lactobacillus.
Studies show this ingredient can help calm redness and may help treat the signs of photoaging; however, the evidence is inconclusive and further studies are needed.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus Ferment LysateWe don't have a description for Lysolecithin yet.
Pullulan is a low viscosity polysaccharide (a long chain carbohydrate) with binding and film forming properties when dissolved in water. It is used to create a "silicone-like" or silky feel in cosmetics without adding viscosity.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient's ability to easily dissolves makes it a great carrier for active ingredients.
Due to it being edible and tasteless, you'll likely find this ingredient in breath freshener strips. This ingredient is produced from the starch of the fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans.
Pullulan is stable over a broad-range of pH.
Learn more about PullulanSclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.
In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.
As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
