What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Albatrellus Confluens Extract
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Orobanche Rapum Extract
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Diutan Gum
Cetearyl Olivate
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
Buffering
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Diheptyl Succinate, Gluconolactone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Sodium PCA, Saccharide Isomerate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Orobanche Rapum Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Diutan Gum, Cetearyl Olivate, Retinal, Phospholipids, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Malic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Octoxynol-9
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
BHA
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantQuartz
Abrasive
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Retinol, Propylene Glycol, Octoxynol-9, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, Soluble Collagen, Titanium Dioxide, BHA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 19140, Quartz, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
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 GlycerinSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
