What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyquaternium-10
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Sodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Isohexadecane
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Boswellia Serrata Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalane
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingOligopeptide-10
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
BHA
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Benzyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Trehalose, Salicylic Acid, Tocopherol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Lecithin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Polysorbate 20, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Honey Extract, Retinol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalane, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Oligopeptide-10, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, BHT, BHA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTCitric 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 AcidWater. 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
