What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Seed Water
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Water, Oryza Sativa Seed Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Propanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-3 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Oleyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Amylopectin
Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Ferment Filtrate, Pentylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dextrin, Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate, Oleyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Inulin, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Polyglutamic Acid, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Extract, Ceramide NP, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propanediol, Trehalose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lecithin, Amylopectin, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sclerotium Gum, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Lauryl Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Myristyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycerinLactobacillus Ferment Lysate is a postbiotic with skin soothing properties. Postbiotics are inactive molecules produced by probiotic bacteria that provide skin benefits.
This ingredient comes from the secretion of the bacteria, Lactobacillus.
Studies show this ingredient can help calm redness and may help treat the signs of photoaging; however, the evidence is inconclusive and further studies are needed.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus Ferment LysatePolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser.
On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LauratePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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
