What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingLecithin
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPalmitic Acid
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientTrifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingGlycolic Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingAdansonia Digitata Oil
EmollientMauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientCaryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract
AbrasiveSodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Dextran
Parfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Lecithin, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, C12-16 Alcohols, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract, Musa Sapientum Pulp Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Glycolic Acid, Tocopherol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Adansonia Digitata Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Dextran, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Stearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantMalic Acid
BufferingMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialGallic Acid
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentLactic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingElettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
PerfumingSantalum Album Wood Extract
PerfumingRose Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningSaponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingNasturtium Officinale Extract
PerfumingHedera Helix Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientArctium Majus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentTocopherol
AntioxidantLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingJasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion StabilisingCananga Odorata Flower Extract
PerfumingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycol Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Malic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Gallic Acid, Panthenol, Cyanocobalamin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Rose Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Hydroxycitronellal
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
AHAs work by breaking down the structural “glue” that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (that’s where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.
Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But don’t skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.
Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless you’re highly sensitive, it’s well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateTocopherol 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