What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Aloe Arborescens Leaf Extract
MoisturisingPanax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Basilicum Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Trehalose
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium 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 Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Diatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Trideceth Sulfate
Cleansing
Squalane
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingFructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Dextrin
AbsorbentAlanine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Hexyl Nicotinate
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Corylus Avellana Seed Oil
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Aloe 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, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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
