What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Water
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaffeine
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPrunus Serotina Fruit Extract
MaskingRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Extract
EmollientHericium Erinaceum Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
EmollientGanoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract
Skin ConditioningGrifola Frondosa Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingLactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Leaf Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cocos Nucifera Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caffeine, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rhodiola Rosea Extract, Hericium Erinaceum Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, Grifola Frondosa Extract, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Panthenol, Parfum
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSphingolipids
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSymphytum Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingWater, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sphingolipids, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Polyglutamic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Gluconolactone, Beta-Glucan, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Sodium Citrate, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Phytate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Centella Asiatica Extract
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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