What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPiperonyl Glucoside
Skin ProtectingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientCyclodextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycolic Acid, Squalane, Sodium Hydroxide, Behenyl Alcohol, Gluconolactone, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Piperonyl Glucoside, Polyglutamic Acid, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Cyclodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sclerotium Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantMagnesium Chloride
Malic Acid
Buffering
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cochlearia Armoracia Root Extract
MaskingQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phytic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Sulfur
Antiseborrhoeic
Vinegar
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Sorbitol
Humectant
Tea-Lactate
HumectantUrea
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Water, Gluconolactone, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Magnesium Chloride, Malic Acid, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Cochlearia Armoracia Root Extract, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Allantoin, Serine, Sulfur, Vinegar, Sodium Salicylate, Sorbitol, Tea-Lactate, Urea, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Bisulfite
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 AcidGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 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 AcidSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
