What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitol
HumectantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingP-Anisic Acid
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Gluconolactone, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid
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