What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Lactobionic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Triethanolamine, Bisabolol, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-8, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Menthyl PCA
HumectantLactamide Mea
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingSodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Menthane Carboxamide Ethylpyridine
Parfum
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Dimethicone, Menthyl PCA, Lactamide Mea, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Steareth-20, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Guaiazulene, Menthane Carboxamide Ethylpyridine, Parfum, Citronellol, Limonene, Alcohol
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 AcidCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium 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 SorbateSodium 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
