What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGalactoarabinan
Propanediol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Galactoarabinan, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Xylitol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Harungana Madagascariensis Extract
Skin ConditioningMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingPyrus Sorbus Bud Extract
AstringentUlex Europaeus Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Xylitylglucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Citrate, Anhydroxylitol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xylitol, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, Glucose, Citric Acid, Harungana Madagascariensis Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Pyrus Sorbus Bud Extract, Ulex Europaeus Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Maris Sal, CI 14700, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric 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 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 PropanediolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
