What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingPolycitronellol
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientPrunus Domestica Seed Extract
EmollientDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientC28-52 Olefin/Undecylenic Acid Copolymer
Propanediol
SolventBehenyl Behenate
EmollientTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion StabilisingBetulin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glyceryl Ether
CleansingOryzanol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSphingolipids
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantOleic Acid
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientP-Anisic Acid
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sucrose Cocoate, Polycitronellol, Behenyl Alcohol, Prunus Domestica Seed Extract, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, C28-52 Olefin/Undecylenic Acid Copolymer, Propanediol, Behenyl Behenate, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Betulin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether, Oryzanol, Xanthan Gum, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phospholipids, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Ceramide NP, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ceramide AP, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sphingolipids, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Oleic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, P-Anisic Acid
Glycerin 21%
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningC30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolybutene
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingDimethiconol
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingMadecassoside
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningManganese Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycerin 21%, Water, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone, Polybutene, Sodium Citrate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Polysorbate 20, Madecassoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Manganese Gluconate, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 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 GlycolSodium 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 CitrateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water