What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Myrrha Oil
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Coco-Caprylate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Zinc Oxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oryza Sativa Starch, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Inulin, Cellulose, Fructose, Glucose, Hydroxystearic Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Sucrose Tristearate
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMethylsilanol/Silicate Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDrometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 61
Emulsifying
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Dimethicone, Sucrose Tristearate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Methylsilanol/Silicate Crosspolymer, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 61, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 19140, CI 42090
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 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 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
