What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PEG-8
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientTuber Aestivum Extract
Skin ProtectingTuber Melanosporum Extract
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Neohesperidin Dihydrochalcone
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., PEG-8, Dipropylene Glycol, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Propylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Tuber Aestivum Extract, Tuber Melanosporum Extract, Adenosine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Neohesperidin Dihydrochalcone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Octyldodecanol, Squalane, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Biotin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Benzyl Alcohol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, CI 14700, CI 19140, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Salicylate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPropanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMalpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberEthyl Hexanediol
SolventWater, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Betaine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycereth-26, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Malpighia Punicifolia Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Ethyl Hexanediol
Reviews
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 AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 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.
Tocopherol 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
