What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Polyquaternium-37
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phytantriol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Parfum, Panthenol, Anhydroxylitol, Polyquaternium-37, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xylitol, Citric Acid, Phytantriol, Glycerin, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCalcium Pantothenate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Inositol
Humectant
Lauryl Lactate
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-10
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Alcohol Denat., Water, Benzoic Acid, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Citric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Dehydroacetic Acid, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Glycol Distearate, Inositol, Lauryl Lactate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyquaternium-10, Potassium Sorbate, Retinol, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Tocopherol, Zea Mays Oil
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 BenzoateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
