What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingP-Anisic Acid
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, 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
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialFicus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Disodium Sebacoyl Bis-Lauramidolysine
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Diheptyl Succinate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Octyldodecanol, Propylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Phospholipids, Xanthan Gum, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Calcium Gluconate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium Sebacoyl Bis-Lauramidolysine, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
