What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCopper Heptapeptide-14 Pantothenate
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCalcium Gluconate
HumectantParfum
Masking
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Juice, Niacinamide, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract, Copper Heptapeptide-14 Pantothenate, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Adenosine, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Phenylpropanol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Parfum, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
Emulsifying
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Betaine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Maltodextrin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Succinoglycan, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium PCA, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCitric 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
