What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Betaine, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Squalane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pantolactone, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPEG-8
HumectantPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylamide
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingLimonene
Perfuming
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Pentadecalactone
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Lactose
HumectantAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, PEG-8, PEG-40 Stearate, Saccharide Isomerate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Polyacrylamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Propylene Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Laureth-7, Limonene, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Pentadecalactone, Citric Acid, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Lactose, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Lactis Proteinum, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Lactic Acid
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 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 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.
Water. 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
