What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Clementina Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Sinensis Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Abrasive
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Flower Oil
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Betaine, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Mandelic Acid, Panthenol, Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Clementina Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Sinensis Peel Extract, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlucose
Humectant
Phytic Acid
Bromelain
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water
MaskingAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Glucose, Phytic Acid, Bromelain, Papain, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Glycolate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric 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 AcidDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is below the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser. On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LauratePotassium 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 SorbateWater. 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
