What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Maleate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientUrea
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantMaltose
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlucose
HumectantCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantPropanediol
SolventLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Trehalose, Isopropyl Myristate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Diethylhexyl Maleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Urea, Allantoin, Fructose, Maltose, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucose, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Beta-Glucan, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Propanediol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polysorbate 80, PEG-100 Stearate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Gluconate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
EmollientCitrus Nobilis Peel Extract
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Polyglutamate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBakuchiol
AntimicrobialRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientCentella Asiatica Callus Conditioned Media
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningP-Anisic Acid
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 26100
Cosmetic ColorantSolvent 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
Reviews
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 is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideThis 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. 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