What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Histidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBehenic Acid
Cleansing
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-25
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Squalane, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coconut Alkanes, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Behenic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Beta-Carotene, Musa Sapientum Pulp Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Eos, Cholesterol, Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Zea Mays Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceteareth-25, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialSodium PCA
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Extract
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C16 Olefin Sulfonate, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Maltodextrin, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Sodium PCA, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Extract, Magnesium PCA, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Zinc PCA, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Manganese PCA, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Parfum, Limonene
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.
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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPhenoxyethanol 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 PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
