What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Octyldodeceth-16, Panthenol, Arginine, Betaine, Citric Acid, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Gluconolactone, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Limonene, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Betaine, Colloidal Oatmeal, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Tocopherol, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Panthenol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Azelaic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, 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.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactonePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
