What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSalicylic Acid
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Marrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolylysine
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Isoceteth-20
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-10
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Polylysine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Isoceteth-20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oligopeptide-10, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Succinic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Formic Acid
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Arachis Hypogaea Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Succinic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Tranexamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Carbomer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arginine, Triethylene Glycol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Formic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acer Saccharum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Arachis Hypogaea Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Folic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Hyaluronate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin 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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 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. 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
