What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba
UV Absorber
Amodimethicone
Polyquaternium-37
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Silicone Quaternium-18
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba, Amodimethicone, Polyquaternium-37, Diazolidinyl Urea, Silicone Quaternium-18, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Trideceth-12, Trideceth-6, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Elastin, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Silicone Quaternium-18
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyquaternium-73
Polyquaternium-37
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Quaternium-80
4-PCA Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-29
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningLaureth-4
Emulsifying
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMagnesium Nitrate
Magnesium Chloride
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Acetyl Cedrene
Amyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hexamethylindanopyran
Masking
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Terpineol
Masking
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Water, Dimethicone, Silicone Quaternium-18, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-73, Polyquaternium-37, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Quaternium-80, 4-PCA Dimethicone, Polysilicone-29, Trideceth-6, Trideceth-12, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Laureth-4, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Magnesium Nitrate, Magnesium Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum, Acetyl Cedrene, Amyl Salicylate, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hexamethylindanopyran, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Terpineol, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
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 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.
We don't have a description for Polyquaternium-37 yet.
We don't have a description for PPG-1 Trideceth-6 yet.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolThis ingredient is an emollient designed to leave a non-greasy feel. It is also a skin conditioning agent and viscosity modifier.
Skin irritation studies for this ingredient (up to 80%) showed mimimal to no irritation.
One thing worth knowing: this ingredient may enhance the skin penetration of other ingredients.
Overall, this ingredient is a well-tolerated and lightweight emollient.
Learn more about Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/DicaprateSilicone Quaternium-18 is a type of silicone.
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 BenzoateWe don't have a description for Trideceth-12 yet.
We don't have a description for Trideceth-6 yet.
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
