What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Leaf Extract
AstringentSaccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Lactate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Inulin, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Maltodextrin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Fructose, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Avena Sativa Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Potassium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Behenate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Glabridin
BleachingAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Citrus Limon Peel Powder
AbsorbentHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Powder
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Acetic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Behenyl Behenate, Butylene Glycol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Urea, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Glabridin, Asiaticoside, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Hexyldecanol, Citrus Limon Peel Powder, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Sclerotium Gum, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Powder, Phytosterols, Acetic Acid, Lactic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bifida Ferment Lysate is a postbiotic ingredient made by fermenting Bifidobacterium to extract a nutrient-rich mix of peptides, amino acids, vitamins, organic acids, and polysaccharides.
These components are basically the building blocks that your skin already uses to stay hydrated, repair itself, and maintain its barrier. That's why this ingredient helps your skin hold onto moisture and stay resilient against irritation.
One in-vitro study found that this ingredient tells your skin cells to produce more of the proteins (filaggrin, loricrin, and involucrin) for building a strong and healthy barrier. This study also found this ingredient to be a solid antioxidant that helped neutralize damage against UV and pollution.
A study with people from 2010 found that sensitive, reactive skin using a cream with 10% of this ingredient for a month became noticeably less dry, less reactive, and harder to irritate compared to the group using a plain cream.
In short, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient that can help with barrier repair, antioxidant protection, and calming reactive skin.
This ingredient is generally considered fungal acne (Malassezia) safe; Bifidobacterium is a bacterium, not a yeast or fungus.
The fungal acne concern with fermented ingredients mainly applies to yeast-derived ferments like Saccharomyces and Galactomyces, because those are in the same kingdom as Malassezia and could theoretically contain residual compounds that feed it.
Bifida is a completely different organism, so on its own it doesn't provide a food source for the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about Bifida Ferment LysateButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
