What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPerlite
AbsorbentSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCoumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Perlite, Sodium Gluconate, Lactic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Lauryl Glucoside, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Coumarin, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Bisabolol
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingGlucose
Humectant
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Betaine, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Panthenol, Chlorphenesin, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Bisabolol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Glucose, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPotassium 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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skinâs lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. 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
