What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAspartic Acid
Masking
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium Iminodisuccinate
Fumaric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingMaleic Acid
BufferingMalic Acid
Buffering
Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Aspartic Acid, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Salicylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate, Fumaric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Maleic Acid, Malic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Buddleja Globosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantEquisetum Arvense Leaf Extract
AstringentDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Echinacea Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Tetrasodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Buddleja Globosa Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Maltodextrin, Propanediol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Lactic Acid, Citric 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.
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 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
