What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventIsohexadecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantIsododecane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingArginine
MaskingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientTanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC13-15 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantErythritol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAzulene
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingThymus Mastichina Flower Oil
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXylitol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningMyristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingCitral
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Propanediol, Isohexadecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isododecane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Arginine, Polyglycerin-3, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Carbomer, C13-15 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Erythritol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Azulene, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Thymus Mastichina Flower Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xylitol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Phytosterols, Linoleic Acid, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Citral, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentJojoba Esters
EmollientSorbus Aucuparia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientAroma
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Cydonia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Rubrum Fruit Extract
TonicRubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
AntioxidantRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantVanillin
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Jojoba Esters, Sorbus Aucuparia Fruit Extract, Diheptyl Succinate, Aroma, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract, Pyrus Cydonia Fruit Extract, Ribes Rubrum Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, CI 77492, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, CI 77491, Vanillin, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
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.
Learn more about CitralGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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