What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropanediol
SolventVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Acer Saccharum Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventLactic Acid
BufferingSqualane
EmollientArginine
MaskingSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentSilica
AbrasiveGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientNicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningHarungana Madagascariensis Extract
Skin ConditioningTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
AntioxidantOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentPistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Glucose
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingC15-19 Alkane
SolventGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Sodium Phytate
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Lactic Acid, Squalane, Arginine, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Silica, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Saccharomyces Ferment, Harungana Madagascariensis Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Oryza Sativa Starch, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Sodium PCA, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gluconolactone, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Coco-Glucoside, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glyceryl Caprylate, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Glucose, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, C15-19 Alkane, Glyceryl Stearate, Sclerotium Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lauroyl Lysine, C9-12 Alkane, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Sodium Phytate, Triheptanoin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol
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 GlycerinPhenethyl Alcohol is a colorless and aromatic alohol. It is naturally occuring in essential oils.
The scent of this ingredient is floral and often compared to rose.
Like other alcohols, this ingredient helps prevent the growth of bacteria. However, its main purpose is to impact a fragrance.
Learn more about Phenethyl AlcoholPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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