What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
C13-15 Alkane
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Isosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sh-Polypeptide-2 Sr-Egyptian Scorpion Oligopeptide-1
Skin Protecting
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Hydroxytyrosol
Bleaching
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Mannitol
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenyl Triacetate
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantGlucosylrutin
Antioxidant
Threonine
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Valine
MaskingPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glutathione
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Succinate
MaskingSaccharomyces Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Propanediol, C13-15 Alkane, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Squalane, Ascorbic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Sh-Polypeptide-2 Sr-Egyptian Scorpion Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Hexylresorcinol, Alpha-Arbutin, Hydroxytyrosol, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Mannitol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Panthenyl Triacetate, Gold, Glucosylrutin, Threonine, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Valine, Phosphatidylcholine, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sorbitol, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glutathione, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract, Disodium Succinate, Saccharomyces Lysate, Caprylyl Glycol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Carbonate
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventCitric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glutathione
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Superoxide Dismutase, Lactobionic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glutathione, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Mandelic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Linolenic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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, 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 AcidGlutathione is an antioxidant naturally found in our bodies. It is made up of three amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid.
As an antioxidant, it prevents oxidative damage to parts of our cell.
While glutathione is said to help with fading dark spots, the results from research are inconclusive. Further studies are needed. With that said, gluthatione has been shown to protect our skin from UV-B induced damage.
This ingredient is naturally occurring in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria.
Learn more about GlutathioneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
