What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingDiglycerin
HumectantSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSea Water
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAlgin
MaskingPropanediol
SolventBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Diglycerin, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sea Water, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Algin, Propanediol, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSucrose Distearate
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantCarnosine
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingLithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningAmylopectin
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePotassium Benzoate
PreservativePhenylpropanol
MaskingLevulinic Acid
PerfumingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningWater, Panthenol, Squalane, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sucrose Distearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Carnosine, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cholesterol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Chloride, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Amylopectin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, CI 77220, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Benzoate, Phenylpropanol, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate
Reviews
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 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePanthenol 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 PanthenolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolSodium 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