What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSyzygium Luehmannii Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Kunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Water, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Gluconolactone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract, Syzygium Luehmannii Fruit Extract, Kunzea Pomifera Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Crocus Sativus Flower Extract
Masking3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventEthoxydiglycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Kojic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Sodium Levulinate, Potassium Sorbate, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Betaine, Allantoin, 4-Butylresorcinol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, 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.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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
