What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Methylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Camphor
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Oil
Masking
Thymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSqualane
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenethyl Acetate
Masking
Methylbenzyl Acetate
Masking
Ionone
Astringent
Gamma-Undecalactone
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 2,3-Butanediol, Glycerin, Panthenol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Camphor, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ectoin, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Madecassoside, Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Squalane, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Cellulose Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglutamic Acid, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phenethyl Acetate, Methylbenzyl Acetate, Ionone, Gamma-Undecalactone, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water
MaskingParfum
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningStyrax Tonkinensis Resin Extract
Perfuming
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Farnesol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Water, Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water, Parfum, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Glycerin, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Styrax Tonkinensis Resin Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil, Citral, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Farnesol, Benzyl Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about CitralGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolTocopherol 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
