What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingBentonite
AbsorbentSulfur 3.3%
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlutamic Acid
HumectantMalic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingCoconut Acid
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Quartz
AbrasiveCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Bentonite, Sulfur 3.3%, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Glutamic Acid, Malic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Coconut Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Quartz, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentLycopene
AntioxidantVitis Vinifera Skin Extract
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Silica
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Squalane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Panthenol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Lycopene, Vitis Vinifera Skin Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl, Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
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 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