What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Kojic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melatonin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Citrus Nobilis Peel Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Polyglutamate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Callus Conditioned Media
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningP-Anisic Acid
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 26100
Cosmetic Colorant
Solvent Yellow 18
Water, Coco-Caprylate, Citrus Nobilis Peel Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Polyglutamate Crosspolymer, Bakuchiol, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Callus Conditioned Media, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Levulinate, P-Anisic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 26100, Solvent Yellow 18
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
This is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
