What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicSilica
Abrasive
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Algin
Masking
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Silica, Behenyl Alcohol, Algin, Lauryl Betaine, Polyglutamic Acid, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lecithin, Beta-Sitosterol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Gluconolactone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Bacillus Ferment, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientC12-18 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Squalene
Emollient
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Inositol
Humectant
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
AbsorbentHoney Extract
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, C12-18 Acid Triglyceride, Jojoba Esters, Squalene, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Propanediol, Inositol, Oryzanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide, Honey Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
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 GlycerinMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenPhenoxyethanol 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 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 CitrateWater. 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
