What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Arginine
Masking
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantGuaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Zanthoxylum Schinifolium Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Betaine Salicylate, Arginine, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Guaiazulene, Gluconolactone, Panthenol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Glycolic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Zanthoxylum Schinifolium Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Malic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Phytic Acid
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Magnesium Chloride
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantCalcium Chloride
AstringentSodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Chloride
Water, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Niacinamide, Malic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Phytic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Benzoate, Magnesium Chloride, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Gluconate, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
