What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingMadecassoside
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingEugenol
PerfumingTriethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingSorbitol
HumectantMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentDisodium Phosphate
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Alcohol Denat., Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, CI 14700, T-Butyl Alcohol, Madecassoside, Phenoxyethanol, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Eugenol, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Salicylic Acid, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Sorbitol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citric Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSerine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingThreonine
Arginine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingUrea
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantMaltose
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serine, Glycine, Alanine, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Betaine, Allantoin, Fructose, Maltose, Trehalose, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide
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 AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
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 Water