What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientC12-18 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Squalene
Emollient
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Carnosine, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Lecithin, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Caprylyl Glycol, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, C12-18 Acid Triglyceride, Jojoba Esters, Squalene, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Sucrose
Humectant
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Myristyl Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine, Saccharide Isomerate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Xylitol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Sodium Metaphosphate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Sucrose, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Myristyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol 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
