What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXylitol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ammonium Lactate
Buffering
Isocetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Water, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isononyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Squalane, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xylitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Ammonium Lactate, Isocetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Nylon-6/12
AbsorbentDiethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Isomalt
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Propylene Carbonate
SolventMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningBacillus
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingPentapeptide-31
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-28
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Nylon-6/12, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Isomalt, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Carbonate, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, PEG-8, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Acetyl Glutamine, Bacillus, Sodium Hyaluronate, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Lactic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract, Maltodextrin, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Pentapeptide-31, Pentapeptide-28, Parfum
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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 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
