What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caffeoyl Tripeptide-1
Antioxidant
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Squalene
Emollient
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRibose
HumectantGlycosphingolipids
EmollientHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientBuddleja Davidii Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLeucojum Aestivum Bulb Extract
Skin ProtectingNarcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
Astringent
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantPullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Coco-Caprylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Saccharide Isomerate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caffeoyl Tripeptide-1, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Phytosterols, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Squalene, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Ribose, Glycosphingolipids, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Buddleja Davidii Leaf Extract, Leucojum Aestivum Bulb Extract, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Ubiquinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Lecithin, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSteareth-20
CleansingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Panthenol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Pantolactone, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Xanthan Gum, Steareth-20, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
