What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Betaine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Caffeine, Octyldodeceth-16, Panthenol, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Amylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMenthyl Lactate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
Astringent
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantGlycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Malic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Urea, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Niacinamide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Menthyl Lactate, Citric Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, CI 19140, CI 61570, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Sodium Benzoate, Histidine, 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene 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 GlycolCitric 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 AcidHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSalix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark ExtractSodium 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 CitrateWater. 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 Gum
