What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-4
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Fuscoporia Obliqua Sclerotium Extract
Skin ConditioningCordyceps Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Salvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingTrideceth-9
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, PEG-4, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Fuscoporia Obliqua Sclerotium Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Ergothioneine, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Caffeine, Sucrose, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Trideceth-9, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Maltodextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sambucus Nigra Flower Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Polysorbate 20, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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
