What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientBrassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientLactobacillus
Skin Conditioning3-Glyceryl Ascorbate
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Salicylate
PreservativeBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Dicrateria Rotunda Oil
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSqualene
EmollientLecithin
EmollientGlutathione
Thioctic Acid
AntioxidantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Lactobacillus, 3-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ferulic Acid, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Beta-Glucan, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Sodium Salicylate, Beta-Sitosterol, Cetearyl Olivate, Dicrateria Rotunda Oil, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Xanthan Gum, Squalene, Lecithin, Glutathione, Thioctic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Propanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningKojic Acid
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentCitric Acid
BufferingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract
AbrasiveLecithin
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Extract
AntioxidantOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePullulan
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Kojic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Biotin, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Pullulan, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Salicylic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum
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 AcidCurcuma Longa Root Extract is from the spice, turmeric. Besides being a healthy and delicious spice, turmeric also has plenty of skincare benefits. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-microbial properties.
Turmeric contains curcumin, an antioxidant. Antioxidants help neutralize unstable free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules may damage your skin's cells and DNA. Curcumin may help with anti-aging.
Curcumin also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe skin and reduce irritation. On top of that, curcumin has been shown to help prevent hyperpigmentation from sun damage.
The anti-microbial property of turmeric can make it effective in treating acne. This property has also been shown to help regulate the production of sebum.
Learn more about Curcuma Longa Root ExtractGlycerin (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.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPotassium 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 SorbateTocopherol 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