What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Arginine
Masking
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coffea Robusta Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin Protecting
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitol
Humectant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Docosahexaenoic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Emollient
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolydextrose
HumectantAmylopectin
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Arginine, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Coffea Robusta Seed Extract, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Niacinamide, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitol, Phytosphingosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Phosphatidylcholine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Dextrin, Polydextrose, Amylopectin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Medicago Sativa Extract
TonicChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Formate
Buffering
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 75810
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycerin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Laurate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Formate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Limonene, CI 75810
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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
