What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventC9-12 Alkane
SolventOctyldodecanol
EmollientBis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientArginine
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientLecithin
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingMenthoxypropanediol
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingLavandula Oil/Extract
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLeptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
TonicCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialPiper Nigrum Seed Extract
RefreshingTetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Arginine, Chlorphenesin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Lecithin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Citric Acid, Menthoxypropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf/Stem Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lavandula Oil/Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosphingosine, Stearic Acid, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Piper Nigrum Seed Extract, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycosphingolipids
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-37
Paraffinum Liquidum
EmollientAmodimethicone
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingQuaternium-87
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCandelilla Cera
EmollientPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
Sorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-11
Linalool
PerfumingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin Conditioning2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-37, Paraffinum Liquidum, Amodimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Quaternium-87, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Candelilla Cera, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Trideceth-6, Acrylates Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Polyquaternium-11, Linalool, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Cetrimonium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Limonene, Parfum
Alternatives
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water