What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientBetaine
HumectantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
AntimicrobialXylityl Sesquicaprylate
AntimicrobialLysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicPullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
MaskingCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingSqualene
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Glycerin, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Isoamyl Laurate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Betaine, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Bakuchiol, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Lactobacillus, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Medicago Sativa Extract, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Anhydroxylitol, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Silica, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Sodium Hydroxide, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Farnesol, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantEchinacea Purpurea Leaf/Stem/Meristem Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantAsparagus Officinalis Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Ubiquinone, Echinacea Purpurea Leaf/Stem/Meristem Cell Culture Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid
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 AcidTocopherol 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