What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Astrocaryum Tucuma Seed Butter
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Squalene
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Jania Rubens Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingJojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingBentonite
Absorbent
Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Astrocaryum Tucuma Seed Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Squalene, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Jania Rubens Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Carrageenan, Bentonite, Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Hydrated Silica, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sea Salt, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Phytate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer
PEG-8 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSteareth-20
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
BufferingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
PEG-8
HumectantLimonene
Perfuming
Echinacea Angustifolia Extract
MoisturisingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Darutoside
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicDipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Carrageenan
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 20, Ceteareth-20, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Steareth-20, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, PEG-8, Limonene, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Glycine, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Darutoside, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glucose, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Biotin, Dipeptide-2, Carrageenan, Tocopherol, Lecithin
Alternatives
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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.
Potassium 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 SorbateTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
