What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantAmelanchier Alnifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingCalcium Pantothenate
Trehalose
HumectantTaurine
BufferingCreatine
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSerine
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningPCA
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantGlutamic Acid
HumectantThreonine
Valine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Panthenol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Amelanchier Alnifolia Fruit Extract, Urea, Calcium Pantothenate, Trehalose, Taurine, Creatine, Diglycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Daucus Carota Sativa Juice, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Lysine Hcl, Alanine, Arginine, Histidine Hcl, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phenoxyethanol, Serine, Allantoin, Proline, Lactic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Lysine, PCA, Sorbitol, Glutamic Acid, Threonine, Valine, Leucine, Glycine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientUrea
BufferingSucrose
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTriacetin
AntimicrobialHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPEG-6
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlucosamine Hcl
Citric Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Sorbic Acid
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caffeine, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Pisum Sativum Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides, Lactobacillus Ferment, Jojoba Esters, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Urea, Sucrose, Polyquaternium-51, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Triacetin, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-6, PEG-32, Sodium Hydroxide, Glucosamine Hcl, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Stearic Acid, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Glucosamine is an antioxidant and humectant. It is an amino acid sugar and is naturally found in our skin.
The cool thing about this ingredient? It helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid and boost hydration. It also has antioxidant benefits to protect skin cells.
When paired with niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine has been shown to be effective at reducing discoloration.
Learn more about Acetyl GlucosamineCitric 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 is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium 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 SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water