What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Laurate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Fructose
Humectant
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Brassica Alba Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Oligopeptide-195
Oligopeptide-196
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-197
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-198
Oligopeptide-199
Oligopeptide-6
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycol Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Inulin, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Phospholipids, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Phytate, Glycine Soja Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Fructose, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Maltodextrin, Trehalose, Sodium Citrate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Adenosine, Cyclodextrin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Arginine, Brassica Alba Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oligopeptide-195, Oligopeptide-196, Oligopeptide-197, Oligopeptide-198, Oligopeptide-199, Oligopeptide-6
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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
