What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Rhodiola Rosea Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Dextran
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentAcanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRhaponticum Carthamoides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Eugenol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Rhodiola Rosea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Tocopherol, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Dextran, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus Root Extract, Rhaponticum Carthamoides Root Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Glycine
Buffering
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingArctium Majus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialApigenin
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Citric Acid
Buffering
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caffeine, Arginine, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycine, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Gluconolactone, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zinc Chloride, Apigenin, Tocopherol, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Citric Acid, Calcium Gluconate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric 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.
Sodium 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 BenzoateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
