What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ceratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Potassium Chloride
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Dextrin
AbsorbentAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Cellulose Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Chloride, Bakuchiol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dextrin, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Menthyl Lactate, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Copper Tripeptide-1, Dipeptide-2, Oligopeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tripeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Algin
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Methylpropanediol
SolventPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Rosa Damascena Extract
MaskingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Squalene
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Algin, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Methylpropanediol, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Panthenol, Phenylpropanol, Propanediol, Rosa Damascena Extract, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Squalene, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum
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 or alcohol, 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolSodium 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 CitrateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Water. 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
