What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningCollagen
Moisturising
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Phytate
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialLactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Propylene Glycol, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Caffeine, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Collagen, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Phytate, Glycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Lactic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Escin
TonicLactic Acid
Buffering
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Lactate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Betaine, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Caffeine, Escin, Lactic Acid, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.
This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.
Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.
Another name for betaine is trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineBiosaccharide Gum-1 is a sugar created by fermenting sorbitol (which usually comes from potato starch!). It is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties.
Manufacturer tests show this ingredient helped reduce irritation from lactic acid by almost half and kept skin hydrated long-term as a humectant
Beyond hydration, Biosaccharide Gum-1 gives formulas a silky, non-sticky feel.
This ingredient is gentle, versatile, and suitable for all skin types.
Fun fact: Similar sugars can be found naturally in fruits like apples and pears.
Learn more about Biosaccharide Gum-1Caffeine is most associated with coffee, tea, and cacao. In skincare, it helps with calming inflammation and is rich in antioxidants.
While caffeine is used to treat cellulite and and dark circles, further studies are needed to prove this. It has been believed to help with these skin conditions due to its ability to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Some studies are looking into caffeine's ability to protect against UV rays.
Learn more about CaffeineGlycerin 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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidWater. 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. 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
