What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingAlgin
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Honey
Humectant
Cinnamic Acid
Perfuming
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Propanediol, Alpha-Arbutin, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sphingolipids, Phospholipids, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Beta-Glucan, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Algin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Honey, Cinnamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Levulinic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningPCA
Humectant
Alanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Histidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingTapioca Starch
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Lactate
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium PCA, Propanediol, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Magnesium Aspartate, PCA, Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Aspartic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Trehalose, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xylitol, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Tapioca Starch, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Lactate, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol 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 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 HydroxideTocopherol 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 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
