What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Pullulan
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Parfum
Masking
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSucrose Palmitate
EmollientSecale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polyisobutene
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Ulva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Porphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlucose
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Potassium Chloride
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Calcium Chloride
AstringentPhytic Acid
Magnesium Sulfate
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetate
BufferingLysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Histidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningTryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Cystine
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Ornithine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Methionine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Coenzyme A
Skin ConditioningSodium Glucuronate
HumectantThiamine Diphosphate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Niacin
SmoothingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCalcium Pantothenate
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycereth-26, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, C14-22 Alcohols, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Boron Nitride, Pullulan, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Parfum, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Sucrose Palmitate, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Maltodextrin, Polyisobutene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrolyzed Ulva Lactuca Extract, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Linoleate, Squalane, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Sodium Chloride, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Trihydroxystearin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Plankton Extract, Lecithin, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Citrate, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glucose, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Ascorbate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Chloride, Phytic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Glutamine, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Lysine Hcl, Arginine Hcl, Alanine, Histidine Hcl, Valine, Leucine, Threonine, Isoleucine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Glycine, Polysorbate 80, Glucomannan, Serine, Cystine, Cyanocobalamin, Glutathione, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Ornithine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Proline, Methionine, Taurine, Hydroxyproline, Glucosamine Hcl, Coenzyme A, Sodium Glucuronate, Thiamine Diphosphate, Retinyl Acetate, Inositol, Niacin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Caffeine, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 Water
