What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantUrea
BufferingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantLysine
Skin ConditioningPCA
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlpinia Speciosa Flower/Leaf/Stem Water
AntimicrobialPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningMicrocitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Pvp, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Glycerin, Alpinia Speciosa Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide AP, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Potassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid
Reviews
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 AcidPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol (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 skin’s 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 Water