What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingSilica
AbrasivePanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Raffinose
Skin ConditioningPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Laurate
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeXanthophylls
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Maltodextrin, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Silica, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Raffinose, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Carbomer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Potassium Laurate, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthophylls, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingC9-11 Pareth-6
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Cetearyl Olivate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, C9-11 Pareth-6, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
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
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
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 AcidPhenoxyethanol 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water