What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Hyaluronic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Sorbitol, Pentylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Citronellol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDiglycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Xylitol
Humectant
PEG-150
HumectantSorbitol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Peel Extract
AntimicrobialPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Prunus Mume Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Xylitol, PEG-150, Sorbitol, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Citric Acid, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Peel Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Methylparaben
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 EthylhexylglycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium 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 CitrateSorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolWater. 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
