What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMethyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
PerfumingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlycereth-26
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Cyclohexasiloxane
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingBehenic Acid
CleansingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyacrylate-13
Vinyldimethicone
T-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl Isostearate
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningAdenine
Skin ConditioningDisodium Flavine Adenine Dinucleotide
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingRetinol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingDextrin
AbsorbentCholesterol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningAluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingChitosan
Tromethamine
BufferingAcetyl Tributyl Citrate
MaskingTetrapeptide-5
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
AntioxidantAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningArginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin ConditioningNicotinoyl Dipeptide-23
Skin ConditioningNicotinoyl Tripeptide-1
AntioxidantNicotinoyl Tripeptide-35
AntioxidantNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-29
AntioxidantOligopeptide-32
AntiseborrhoeicPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-29
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin ConditioningSh-Decapeptide-7
AntioxidantSh-Octapeptide-4
AntioxidantSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-16
Skin ProtectingSh-Polypeptide-22
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-3
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-62
AntioxidantSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningSr-(Oligopeptide-91 Clostridium Botulinum Polypeptide-1)
Skin ConditioningTetrapeptide-30
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-10
Skin ConditioningCitrulline
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-29
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Methylpropanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Polysorbate 60, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycereth-26, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sorbitan Stearate, Behenic Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyacrylate-13, Vinyldimethicone, T-Butyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phytosteryl Isostearate, Polyisobutene, Ceramide NP, Adenine, Disodium Flavine Adenine Dinucleotide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Retinol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Dextrin, Cholesterol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Chitosan, Tromethamine, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Tetrapeptide-5, Resveratrol, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Dipeptide-2, Dipeptide-4, Hexapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-12, Hexapeptide-9, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-23, Nicotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Nicotinoyl Tripeptide-35, Nonapeptide-1, Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-29, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Sh-Decapeptide-7, Sh-Octapeptide-4, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-16, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-62, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sr-(Oligopeptide-91 Clostridium Botulinum Polypeptide-1), Tetrapeptide-30, Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-10, Citrulline, Tripeptide-29
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLactose
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
PEG-8
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningDihydroxy Methylchromone
AntioxidantMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSorbitol
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingMethyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Lactose, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-8, Retinol, Dihydroxy Methylchromone, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Sorbitol, Stearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Propyl Gallate, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Citric Acid
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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 AcidDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. 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.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water