What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Polysilicone-11
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Steareth-20
CleansingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Water, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Lauroyl Lysine, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polysilicone-11, CI 77891, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Steareth-20, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Chrysin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Citric Acid, Biotin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Algae Extract
EmollientPaeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Trametes Versicolor Extract
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polybutene
Whey Protein
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Cera Alba
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Octyldodecanol, Alcohol Denat., Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Polyaspartate, Niacinamide, Algae Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Caffeine, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Trehalose, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Sorbitol, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polybutene, Whey Protein, Ceramide Ng, Dimethiconol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cera Alba, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Citric Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
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 AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium 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 SorbateWater. 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
