What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Water
MaskingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDiacetyl Boldine
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantRumex Occidentalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantUrea
BufferingCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriacetin
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Hyaluronic Acid, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diacetyl Boldine, Propanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Glycerin, Rumex Occidentalis Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Methyl Gluceth-20, Panthenol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Urea, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Glutathione, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Superoxide Dismutase, Xanthan Gum, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Trehalose, Phenoxyethanol, Triacetin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Allantoin, Panthenol, Madecassoside, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Water, Glucose, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarica Papaya Fruit Extract comes from the flesh of the papaya. It's a skin conditioning agent that carries a mix of bioactives like papain, beta-carotene, and vitamin C.
These bioactive compounds give it two main talking points:
1. Papain is a proteolytic enzyme that provides mild exfoliation, helping skin look smoother and more even.
2. The carotenoids and vitamin C provide some antioxidant activity.
It's pretty compatible with most ingredients, but just sure to space out enzyme products with strong acids/retinoids to avoid over-doing it.
Maximum reported concentration is around 0.1% and most leave-on products use just 0.05%. If you see higher figures like 5-10%, this is usually the pre-diluted material from raw extract suppliers.
This ingredient has an assuring safety record and there's a lack of clinical case reports of dermatitis from using it.
The only caveat is allergy: patch test if you have a papaya or latex-fruit allergy.
Learn more about Carica Papaya Fruit ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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