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 ConditioningC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Triticum Vulgare Flour Lipids
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningFagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicLactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactose
HumectantMannitol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-13 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Retinol, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Triticum Vulgare Flour Lipids, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Lactis Proteinum, Bacillus Ferment, Retinyl Palmitate, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Saccharide Isomerate, Glycerin, Lactose, Mannitol, Lecithin, Cetyl Alcohol, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, PEG-8, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, BHT, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, CI 77891, CI 77491, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Limonene, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Eugenol, Benzyl Benzoate, Isoeugenol, Parfum
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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
