What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Volcanic Soil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glucose
Humectant
Amylopectin
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Glycerin, C14-22 Alcohols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Volcanic Soil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Glucose, Amylopectin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lactate
Buffering
Squalene
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
BufferingPotassium Lactate
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycereth-5 Lactate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Water, Ammonium Lactate, Squalene, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coconut Alkanes, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Lactate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycereth-5 Lactate, Polysorbate 60, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Polyisobutene, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA
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 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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
