What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Poloxamer 188
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Poloxamer 188, Betaine, Panthenol, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Disodium Ricinoleamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate
CleansingMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingSodium Salicylate
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Tamarindus Indica Extract
SmoothingArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Betaine, Disodium Ricinoleamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Sodium Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Zinc PCA, Tamarindus Indica Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Biotin, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCitric 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 GlycerinMethyl Gluceth-20 is a humectant. Humectants help draw moisture from the air to your skin.
It is created by combining polyethylene glycol with glucose.
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 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
