What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Isododecane
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Zingerone
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Isododecane, Propanediol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Squalane, Tocopherol, Acetyl Zingerone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cellulose, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Cellulose Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Harpagophytum Procumbens Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Polyglutamic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sodium Carrageenan, Bacillus Ferment, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Harpagophytum Procumbens Root Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Benzoate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Maris Sal
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract is is derived from colloidal oatmeal. Besides being a healthy breakfast, oats have many benefits in skincare too.
This ingredient helps sooth, hydrate, and protect the skin. The starches in colloidal oatmeal are able to bind water, keeping the skin hydrated.
The cellulose and fiber in colloidal oatmeal help reduce inflammation. This can also help the skin feel softer.
Colloidal Oatmeal is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect our skin from free-radical damage.
Oatmeal also contains beneficial compounds:
This ingredient is created by mixing grounded oatmeal and a liquid base.
Learn more about Avena Sativa Kernel ExtractCitric 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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
