What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Calendula Officinalis Flower
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGeranium Maculatum Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
Masking
Artemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Panthenol, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Chlorphenesin, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Sodium Citrate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Limonene, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Citric Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Farnesol, Linalool, Tocopherol, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Artemisia Absinthium Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates
CleansingXylitol
Humectant
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Pullulan
Isohexadecane
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Tocopherol, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Lecithin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrulline, Magnesium Aspartate, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, Xylitol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Silica, Tin Oxide, Pullulan, Isohexadecane, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Parfum, CI 77891, CI 17200
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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolTocopherol 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
