What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingNiacinamide 5%
SmoothingTranexamic Acid 3%
AstringentCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientUndecylenoyl Phenylalanine 2%
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientAlpha-Arbutin 2%
AntioxidantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientGlutathione 1%
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningArbutin
AntioxidantVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialLecithin
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingLinolenic Acid
CleansingPEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer
StabilisingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Sulfite
PreservativeAcetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPisum Sativum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Thiocyanate
StabilisingLactoferrin
Skin ConditioningLactoperoxidase
StabilisingGlucose Oxidase
StabilisingGlucose Pentaacetate
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingUbiquinone
AntioxidantSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCeteareth-25
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenic Acid
CleansingCholesterol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide Eos
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCaprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCaprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientArisaema Amurense Extract
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingKojic Acid
AntioxidantHexapeptide-2
BleachingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientArginine
Masking4-Butylresorcinol
AntioxidantDextrin
AbsorbentTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantDipeptide-4
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningWater, Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Niacinamide 5%, Tranexamic Acid 3%, Cyclopentasiloxane, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine 2%, Squalane, Alpha-Arbutin 2%, Saccharide Isomerate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Glutathione 1%, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Arbutin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Linolenic Acid, PEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Sulfite, Acetyl Tyrosine, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Pisum Sativum Seed Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Thiocyanate, Lactoferrin, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose Oxidase, Glucose Pentaacetate, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Ubiquinone, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ceteareth-25, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Arisaema Amurense Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Kojic Acid, Hexapeptide-2, Carbomer, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Arginine, 4-Butylresorcinol, Dextrin, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Hyaluronic Acid, Dipeptide-4, Retinyl Palmitate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingIngredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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