What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientSodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Glycine Soja Oil Unsaponifiables, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingPhytic Acid
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingLimonene
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Ferulic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Phytic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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