What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Bentonite
Absorbent
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Zinc Lactate
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Totarol
Antioxidant
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Harungana Madagascariensis Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Parfum, Bentonite, Lauroyl Lysine, Zinc Gluconate, Zinc PCA, Zinc Lactate, Bakuchiol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Totarol, Lauric Acid, Bisabolol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Dicaprylyl Ether, Harungana Madagascariensis Extract, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Phytic Acid, Pancratium Maritimum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientSerine
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Bixa Orellana Seed Extract
MaskingGlyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Algin
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Hydrolyzed Wheat Flour
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Chloride
CI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Calcium Chloride
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Histidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningTryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingGlycine
Buffering
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Cystine
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Ornithine Hcl
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Methionine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Coenzyme A
Skin ConditioningSodium Glucuronate
HumectantThiamine Diphosphate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Niacin
SmoothingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCalcium Pantothenate
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Tocopheryl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Gluconolactone, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Niacinamide, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Zinc Gluconate, Parfum, Trehalose, Urea, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Sucrose Palmitate, Serine, Pentylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Glyceryl Linoleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Hydrolyzed Wheat Flour, Glucose, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, CI 61570, Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnesium Sulfate, Glutamine, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Sodium Phosphate, CI 19140, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Tocopherol, Lysine Hcl, Arginine Hcl, Alanine, Histidine Hcl, Valine, Leucine, Threonine, Isoleucine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Glycine, Polysorbate 80, Cystine, Cyanocobalamin, Glutathione, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Ornithine Hcl, Glutamic Acid, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Proline, Methionine, Taurine, Hydroxyproline, Glucosamine Hcl, Coenzyme A, Sodium Glucuronate, Thiamine Diphosphate, Retinyl Acetate, Inositol, Niacin, Pyridoxine Hcl, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid
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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumZinc gluconate has antibacterial and wound healing properties. It is particularly effective against fighting inflammatory acne.
This ingredient is the zinc salt of the PHA gluconic acid. PHAs are gentle cousins to AHAs.
