What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Cocoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSorbitol
Humectant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingDiglycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingThuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Dextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Sorbitol, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Diglycerin, Potassium Cocoate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Polyglycerin-3, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol
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
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 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is the potassium salt of coconut acid. Coconut acid is created by mixing fatty acids from coconut oil.
It is an emulsifier, surfactant, and cleanser. According to a manufacturer, it contains glycerin.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is an amino acid-based surfactant and cleaning agent. This ingredient can be derived from animals or plants. It may also be synthetically created from fatty acids of the coconut and glycine.
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate is a gentle surfactant. Surfactants help gather the dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away. It is a mild cleanser and naturally produces foam.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
