What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocotrienols
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Santalum Spicatum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingCeteareth-25
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Banksia Serrata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBarklya Syringifolia Flower/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Brachychiton Acerifolius Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Davidsonia Pruriens Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Santalum Acuminatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTelopea Speciosissima Flower/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningCaprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocotrienols, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Santalum Spicatum Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Mica, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Ceteareth-25, Pentylene Glycol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Banksia Serrata Flower Extract, Barklya Syringifolia Flower/Leaf Extract, Brachychiton Acerifolius Flower Extract, Citrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Davidsonia Pruriens Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Santalum Acuminatum Fruit Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Extract, Telopea Speciosissima Flower/Leaf Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Behenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Copper Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Ceramide Ns, Glycine, Sodium Benzoate, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Limonene, CI 77891, CI 77491
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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 Water
