What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Soy Flour
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Hexamethylindanopyran
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Propylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Hexylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Soy Flour, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Hexamethylindanopyran, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Copper PCA
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oligopeptide-10
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, C12-13 Pareth-9, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Xylitol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Zinc PCA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Salicylate, Copper PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oligopeptide-10, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate
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 AcidPropylene 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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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
