What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingSpiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Polysorbate 20, Betaine, Sodium Citrate, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Neopentanoate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Junos Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicEugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Potassium Stearate
CleansingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Tranexamic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Inulin, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Lactobacillus, Lactic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Maltodextrin, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Biotin, Stearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glycerin, Carbomer, Triethyl Citrate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Potassium Stearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Chloride, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric 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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimonenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
