What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingNiacinamide 5%
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid 3%
Astringent
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine 2%
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin 2%
Antioxidant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientGlutathione 1%
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Lecithin
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Stabilising
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Pisum Sativum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Thiocyanate
StabilisingLactoferrin
Skin ConditioningLactoperoxidase
StabilisingGlucose Oxidase
StabilisingGlucose Pentaacetate
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ceteareth-25
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Arisaema Amurense Extract
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Hexapeptide-2
Bleaching
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dipeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Water, 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
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ingredients 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 synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
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 (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
