What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Polyquaternium-67
Nelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Extract
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Acetate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingMentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Thymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLeucine
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingHistidine
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingOrnithine
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Coconut Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Coco-Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Isethionate, Potassium Cocoate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Potassium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-67, Nelumbo Nucifera Callus Culture Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Citrus Nobilis Peel Extract, Disodium EDTA, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract, Sodium Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Xanthan Gum, Leucine, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Trehalose, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methionine, Arginine, Proline, Glycine, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Glutamic Acid, Serine, Valine, Histidine, Taurine, Ornithine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Water
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate-13
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Indole Acetic Acid
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Vegetable Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate-13, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Synthetic Beeswax, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Indole Acetic Acid, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Propanediol, Vegetable Amino Acids, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Polyglutamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 AcidCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil is the oil from the bergamot orange and is primarily used as a fragrance. It has a "fresh" and "bright orange" scent.
The main aroma compounds found in this ingredient are limonene (~27-52%), linalool (~2-22%), and linalyl acetate (~27-40%). These are known EU fragrance allergens.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
When used topically, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil is a photosensitizer due to the furanocoumarin content. Furanocoumarins absorb UV-A and cause phytophotodermatitis; this can look like redness, blistering, and lasting brown pigmentation on sun-exposed skin.
Due to this, this ingredient is capped at 0.4% in leave-on products applied to sun exposed skin.
Many modern formulas used a "furanocoumarin-free" version that sidesteps the phototoxicity issue, but still contains the fragrance allergens.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit OilDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyglutamic Acid is made up many glutamic acids chained together. It is created from bacterial fermentation.
This ingredient is an effective skin hydrator and may help speed up wound healing. As a humectant, it draws and holds water to the skin. This ingredient is often compared to hyaluronic acid or glycerin. Similarly to hyaluronic acid, it can vary in molecular weights. This means polyglutamic acid is capable of bringing hydration to lower levels of the skin.
Fun fact: Polyglutamic Acid is found in the Japanese food, natto. It is also being used in cancer treatment studies.
Learn more about Polyglutamic AcidThis ingredient is a preservative and inhibits the growth of fungi, certain bacteria, yeast, and mold.
It is the potassium salt of benzoic acid.
Potassium benzoate works best in products with a low pH level (below 4.5).
Learn more about Potassium BenzoateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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
