What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol Cocoate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingTalc
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingPEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Ethylcellulose
Parfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Citronellol
Perfuming
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
CI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Alcohol Denat., Cyclopentasiloxane, Isostearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Talc, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Capryloyl Glycine, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ethylcellulose, Parfum, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Zinc Gluconate, Maltodextrin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Sodium Citrate, Limonene, Geraniol, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, CI 61570, CI 19140, Biotin
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, 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 GlycerinWater. 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
