What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlbatrellus Confluens Extract
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
Emollient
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPantolactone
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Sorbitan Stearate, Propanediol, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Squalane, Decyl Oleate, Panthenol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Polyglutamate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Phospholipids, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sphingolipids, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Pantolactone, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Citric Acid, Phenylpropanol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Benzoate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientIsostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Xylose
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Mannitol
Humectant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Eugenol
Perfuming
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Mineral Salts
Skin ConditioningWater, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Glycerin, Propanediol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Octyldodecanol, Cera Alba, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, C12-16 Alcohols, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Xylose, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Hexapeptide-9, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Mannitol, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Citrate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Polysorbate 20, Eugenol, Carnosine, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Mineral Salts
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric 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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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
