What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Polysilicone-11
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Isocetyl Stearate
Emollient
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Myristyl Glucoside
CleansingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyacrylate-13
Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningSucrose Palmitate
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Polyisobutene
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polysilicone-11, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Polysorbate 20, Isocetyl Stearate, Myristyl Alcohol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Adenosine, Ceramide Ng, Pisum Sativum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Myristyl Glucoside, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyacrylate-13, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Sucrose Palmitate, Polysorbate 80, Polyisobutene, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Linoleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Water, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Chlorphenesin, Copper Tripeptide-1, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Phosphatidylcholine, Linoleic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Linolenic Acid, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
