What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoconut Alkanes
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBerberis Vulgaris Root Extract
AntimicrobialCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Coconut Alkanes, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Wheat Amino Acids, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Niacinamide, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyproline, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Pullulan
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Glutathione
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhloretin
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
PPG-8-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Silica
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Squalane, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, C9-12 Alkane, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Pullulan, Sclerotium Gum, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Glutathione, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Phloretin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Metabisulfite, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, Gluconolactone, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Silica, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Chondrus Crispus Extract
Reviews
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 AcidCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin (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.
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil is the oil expressed from the seeds of the Marula plant. In South Africa, Marula is called "an elephant's favorite treat".
Marula seed oil is a non-fragrant oil. It is rich in fatty acids, such as oleic, linoleic, palmitic, stearic, and more. These fatty acids help hydrate the skin.
Other components of marula seed oil include vitamin E and antioxidants such as flavonoids.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Sclerocarya Birrea Seed OilSodium 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 Water
