What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventSalicylic Acid
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Salix Daphnoides Bud/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin Conditioning
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Colloidal Silver
AntimicrobialGlutamic Acid
Humectant
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Lysine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate
EmulsifyingGenipa Americana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Water, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Dimethyl Sulfone, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Panthenol, Trehalose, Salix Daphnoides Bud/Leaf/Stem Extract, Inulin, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Colloidal Silver, Glutamic Acid, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Allantoin, Betaine, Gluconolactone, Sodium PCA, PCA, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Lysine, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate, Genipa Americana Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Potassium Sorbate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Lactic Acid
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 AcidDimethyl Sulfone is an organic compound that naturally contains sulfur. It is used as a solvent due to its stability. Solvents help mix and stabilize other ingredients.
Studies show taking Dimethyl Sulfone (also known as methylsulfonylmethane or MSM) orally may help reduce the depth of wrinkles. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any questions or concerns about this ingredient.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is the hydrolyzed form of Gardenia florida, a shrub native to East Asia. It has antioxidant properties because the plant is rich in polyphenolic compounds like catechin, rutin, quercetin, and gallic acid.
Lab studies confirm that gardenia extracts demonstrate free-radical scavenging activity and a peer-reviewed study showing gardenia fruit extract can calm UV-triggered skin inflammation.
Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPotassium 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 SorbateRosa Damascena Flower Water is the water-based byproduct of steam-distilling damask rose petals. It has skin conditioning, masking, and skin protecting properties.
Research shows that Rosa damascena is rich in flavonoids and phenolic compounds like gallic acid that contribute to its antioxidant activity.
In vitro studies have shown that Rosa damascena can scavenge free radicals and reduce melanin overproduction. Research has also found this extract offers some degree of UV absorption but this should not replace your sunscreen.
Learn more about Rosa Damascena Flower WaterSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
