What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Squalane, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, Polysorbate 80, 1,2-Hexanediol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Citric Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Coco-Glucoside, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzoic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSphingolipids
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Pullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSymphytum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sphingolipids, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Polyglutamic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Gluconolactone, Beta-Glucan, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Sodium Citrate, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Phytate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Centella Asiatica Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
