What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningMicrocitrus Australis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Microcitrus Australis Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides
EmollientKojic Acid
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Pullulan
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrus Limon Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract
Abrasive
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil
Emollient
Carica Papaya Seed Oil
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-51
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Pvp, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Pullulan, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycine Soja Oil, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Limon Juice, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Retinyl Palmitate, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Carica Papaya Seed Oil, Alpha-Arbutin, Glutathione, Azelaic Acid, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Oligopeptide-51
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 AcidHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium 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 Water
