What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantHoney
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBetaine
HumectantSoluble Collagen
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingMenthol
MaskingMalic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Honey, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Soluble Collagen, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Menthol, Malic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Citric Acid
BufferingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentWater, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Citric Acid, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
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 GlycolCitric 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 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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