What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cera Alba
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Glycerin, Cera Alba, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Limonene, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentGlycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Serine
Masking
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Algin
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Betula Alba Juice, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Urea, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Serine, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenethyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Carrageenan, Copper Gluconate, Glucose, Potassium Phosphate, Maris Sal, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Linalool, 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
