What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-37
Polyquaternium-11
Ocimum Basilicum Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Maris Aqua
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Lavandula Stoechas Flower/Stem Extract
EmollientLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Illite
Abrasive
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Mandelic Acid, Lactic Acid, Polyquaternium-37, Polyquaternium-11, Ocimum Basilicum Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Maris Aqua, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Kaolin, Lavandula Stoechas Flower/Stem Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Triethyl Citrate, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Diisopropyl Adipate, Sorbitan Oleate, Saccharide Isomerate, Illite, Sodium Benzoate, Lauryl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-16 Macadamia Glycerides
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Citrus Medica Peel Oil
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Propanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, PEG-16 Macadamia Glycerides, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Citrus Medica Peel Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 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 GlycerinWater. 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
