What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingTrehalose
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveSodium PCA
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-3 Cocoate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingBenzoic Acid
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Trehalose, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Sodium PCA, Allantoin, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCitrus Nobilis Fruit Extract
MaskingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Phytate
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Surfactin
CleansingParfum
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Sodium PCA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Sodium Surfactin, Parfum, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside is an alkyl glucoside. This just means it is creating by reacting alcohol and sugar. It is a cleansing and foaming ingredient.
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside helps remove the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin.
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 is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHamamelis Virginiana Water is made by distilling parts of the witch hazel plant. You can also call this ingredient "witch hazel water".
The name 'Hamamelis Virginiana Water' refers to the distillation product used in cosmetics. On the other hand, 'Witch Hazel' refers to the active drug ingredient.
Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel ingredients are distilled in denatured alcohol.
Witch Hazel water is an astringent, anti-inflammatory antioxidant, and antibacterial ingredient.
It contains tannins. Tannins have a drying effect when used on skin by constricting proteins. The constriction also minimizes the appearance of pores.
Both the tannins and fragrance found in witch hazel may be skin-sensitizing.
Witch hazel water gets anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties from its catechin and gallic acid content.
Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation in North America for centuries.
Learn more about Hamamelis Virginiana WaterPhenoxyethanol 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 PCAWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water