What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract
EmollientAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentPrunus Avium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Orchis Mascula Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vegetable Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Maltose
MaskingSodium Phytate
Glycerin
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyester-5
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Amber Powder
Homarine Hcl
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Acetate
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Caprylyl Methicone, Octyldodecanol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Prunus Avium Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Orchis Mascula Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vegetable Amino Acids, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Maltose, Sodium Phytate, Glycerin, Erythritol, Methyl Gluceth-10, Pentylene Glycol, Polyester-5, Pvp, Sorbitol, Propylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Amber Powder, Homarine Hcl, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Acetate, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningAmp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentPistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Pvp, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenethyl Alcohol
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 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 GlycerinPentylene 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 PhenoxyethanolPotassium 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 SorbatePvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpWater. 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
