What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Steareth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Propanediol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Caffeine, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Disodium EDTA, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Steareth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Biotin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Jojoba Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Sorbitol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pullulan
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Pvp, Silica, Sorbitol, Phenoxyethanol, Niacinamide, Pullulan, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Adenosine, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Tocopherol, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
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 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
