What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Algin
Masking
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
Cleansing
Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cellulose Gum, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Algin, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Erythritol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Kaolin
Abrasive
Illite
Abrasive
Collagen
Moisturising
Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Betaine, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Erythritol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Kaolin, Illite, Collagen, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Squalane, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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 AcidCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateTocopherol (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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
