What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Methylpropanediol
SolventSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentParfum
Masking
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLaureth-3
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Silanetriol
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Abrasive
Agave Americana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Parfum, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Laureth-3, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Limonene, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Silanetriol, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Agave Americana Leaf Extract, CI 42090, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Amylopectin
Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMethylglucamine
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycereth-26, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Amylopectin, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lactic Acid, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Methylglucamine, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPotassium 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
