What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Betaine
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin ConditioningSaponins
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Poria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningProtease
Exfoliating
Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSubtilisin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Polysorbate 20, Methyl Gluceth-20, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Papain, Saponins, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Poria Cocos Extract, Protease, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Subtilisin, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Citrate
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingTannic Acid
AstringentBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningChlorogenic Acids
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
BHA
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Xylitylglucoside, Polysorbate 20, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Anhydroxylitol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Xylitol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Retinol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Caprylyl Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Phosphate, Tannic Acid, Bioflavonoids, Chlorogenic Acids, Glucose, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Maltodextrin, BHA, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citronellol, Geraniol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin 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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
