What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSorbitol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Amylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolydextrose
HumectantDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGold
Cosmetic ColorantPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Glutathione, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Salicylic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Potassium Sorbate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Hexylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Oleate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Polydextrose, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Phosphate, Gold, Polysorbate 60, Ethyl Ferulate, Sodium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil
Masking
Myrtus Communis Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
P-Anisic Acid
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingTerpineol Acetate
MaskingLinalyl Acetate
Masking
Geranyl Acetate
Perfuming
CI 75120
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Allantoin, Sodium PCA, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil, Myrtus Communis Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Lactic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Terpineol Acetate, Linalyl Acetate, Geranyl Acetate, CI 75120
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
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 is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 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 HydroxideWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
