What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Capryl/Capramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingAnnona Cherimola Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Sorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Niacinamide
Smoothing
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentSodium Benzoate
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Biphenyl Azepanyl Methanone
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Capryl/Capramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium Chloride, Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Oleate, Sorbitan Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Niacinamide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propanediol, Saccharide Isomerate, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Citrate, Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Biphenyl Azepanyl Methanone, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Biotin, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
PEG/PPG-8/3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Acrylates Copolymer
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG/PPG-8/3 Diisostearate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Acrylates Copolymer, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Salicylic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Mica, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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
