What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Arginine
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Propanediol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Panthenol, Allantoin, Salicylic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Copper Gluconate, Coco-Betaine, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Arginine, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBeheneth-5
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
C15-23 Alkane
SolventWater, Lactic Acid, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Beheneth-5, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sclerotium Gum, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Gluconolactone, Mandelic Acid, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Allantoin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobionic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, C15-23 Alkane
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
