What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientAloe Arborescens Leaf Extract
MoisturisingPanax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Sativus Extract
Skin ConditioningCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Seed Extract
AntioxidantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingTrehalose
HumectantCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Asiaticoside, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Trehalose, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDiatomaceous Earth
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Trideceth Sulfate
CleansingSqualane
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingSaponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingFructose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantSucrose
HumectantUrea
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentAlanine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingHexyl Nicotinate
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientCorylus Avellana Seed Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Diatomaceous Earth, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Squalane, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Dextrin, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
AHAs work by breaking down the structural “glue” that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (that’s where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.
Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But don’t skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.
Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless you’re highly sensitive, it’s well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum