What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Jojoba Oil PEG-150 Esters
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Rhizobian Gum
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Rubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract
MaskingLonicera Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLitchi Chinensis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
PEG-150
HumectantSqualane
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Sorbitol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Algin
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Lactic Acid
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicLinalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Jojoba Oil PEG-150 Esters, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Acacia Senegal Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Rhizobian Gum, Xanthan Gum, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract, Lonicera Japonica Leaf Extract, Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, PEG-150, Squalane, Lecithin, Carbomer, Sorbitan Laurate, Sorbitol, Parfum, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Maltodextrin, Algin, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-51, Adenosine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, BHT, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Biotin, Linalool, Citronellol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Papain
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingIngredients 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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPotassium 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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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
