What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSerine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingThreonine
Arginine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingUrea
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantMaltose
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serine, Glycine, Alanine, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Betaine, Allantoin, Fructose, Maltose, Trehalose, Glucose, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSteareth-2
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingHydrogenated Coconut Oil
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCentaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
AstringentAphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract
AstringentSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingEthyl Linoleate
EmollientZea Mays Germ Oil
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCorylus Avellana Seed Oil
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientLecithin
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSorbic Acid
PreservativePrunus Persica Kernel Oil
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingPistacia Vera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Germ Oil
EmollientOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Oil
EmollientJuglans Regia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantSilybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientOenothera Biennis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCarapa Guaianensis Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCitronellol
PerfumingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dimethicone, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Steareth-2, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Steareth-21, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Stearyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Aphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Ethyl Linoleate, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbic Acid, Prunus Persica Kernel Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Pistacia Vera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Juglans Regia Seed Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, BHT, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Rosa Damascena Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Alcohol, Propyl Gallate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water