What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Betaine
CleansingPropanediol
SolventSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingAcrylates Copolymer
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantBenzoic Acid
MaskingBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialSideritis Scardica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Propanediol, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Benzoic Acid, Bioflavonoids, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Panthenol, Parfum, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Sideritis Scardica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSqualene
EmollientAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningMalpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalene, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Plankton Extract, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Beta-Sitosterol, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate is a version of ascorbic acid, or Vitamin C.
This ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
It helps with dark spot fading by interfering with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. Like other forms of vitamin C, this ingredient encourages the skin to create more collagen.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
One study found Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate to degrade in sunlight, but is stabilized when combined with acetyl zingerone.
Learn more about Ascorbyl TetraisopalmitateCitric 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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPotassium 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 SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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