What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sodium Stearate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-100 Stearate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Steareth-100
Gel FormingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Methylpropanediol, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sodium Stearate, Glycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Chloride, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Tin Oxide, Ceteareth-20, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone, Steareth-100, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopherol, CI 77491, CI 77891, CI 77510
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Canavalia Gladiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingTasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Fragile Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citrus Medica Vulgaris Peel Oil
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Foeniculum Vulgare Oil
Emollient
Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil
Masking
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Zea Mays Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Betaine, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Canavalia Gladiata Seed Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Allantoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Codium Fragile Extract, Citric Acid, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Butylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Medica Vulgaris Peel Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Foeniculum Vulgare Oil, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Zea Mays Leaf Extract
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
