What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium 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
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Succinic Acid
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Heptyl Glucoside
SurfactantCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCarnitine
Cleansing
Curcuma Wenyujin/Curcuma Kwangsiensis Rhizome Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Harungana Madagascariensis Extract
Skin ConditioningAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract
AntimicrobialOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Succinic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Heptyl Glucoside, Capryloyl Glycine, Carnitine, Curcuma Wenyujin/Curcuma Kwangsiensis Rhizome Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glyceryl Caprylate, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Sarcosine, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Asiaticoside, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Harungana Madagascariensis Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Tocopherol, Trehalose, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract, Octyldodecanol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosterols, T-Butyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Ceramide Ns, Potassium Sorbate
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateThis ingredient is an emollient and emulsifier.
Due to its thick oil / waxy texture, it has emollient properties. Emollients help hydrate skin by creating a thin film. This film prevents moisture from escaping.
Glyceryl Undecylenate is created from glycerin and undecylenic acid.
Undecylenic Acid is a fungal treatment, but is not as effective as newer medications.
Some people who have sensitive skin may find this ingredient to trigger Malassezia folliculitis, but not everyone will react to it.
Learn more about Glyceryl UndecylenateSunflower seed oil unsaponifiables comes from the the small part of sunflower seed oil that does not convert into soap during the saponification process.
This ingredient is rich in vitamin E, fatty acids (like linoleic acid), and other lipophilic compounds, making it a great emollient. Emollients help keep the skin hydrated and soft.
Due to its rich fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil UnsaponifiablesPropanediol 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 PropanediolTocopherol 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
