What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Capryl/Capramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Capryl/Capramidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Niacinamide, Zinc Gluconate, Glycolic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Citric Acid, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Caramel, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
C15-19 Alkane
SolventBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diglycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
C12-13 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, C15-19 Alkane, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Maltodextrin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Citric Acid, Parfum
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 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 CaprylateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
