What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTartaric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
Buffering
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyruvic Acid
MaskingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Algae Extract
Emollient
Menthol
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, C9-12 Alkane, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tartaric Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Lactic Acid, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Citral, Linalool, Limonene, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Pyruvic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Caffeine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Squalane, Glycerin, Algae Extract, Menthol, Lecithin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Plankton Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15510
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate
AbsorbentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingGold
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilver
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic Colorant
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Gold, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silver, Mica, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, CI 77491, CI 77891
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin (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 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
