What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Albatrellus Confluens Extract
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningXanthophylls
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGeraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Phosphate, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Arginine, Glycine Soja Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Inulin, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Beta-Carotene, Xanthophylls, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Geraniol, Linalool
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantMimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Lactose
HumectantLactic Acid
Buffering
Vaccinium Oxycoccos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Caffeyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Dextran
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Water, Water, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Xylitylglucoside, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Milk Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactose, Lactic Acid, Vaccinium Oxycoccos Fruit Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Caffeyl Glucoside, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Dextran, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 “glue” 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 don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re 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 skin’s 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 product’s 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 AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
This ingredient is a preservative with antimicrobial properties. It is the sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid.
It is especially effective at preventing bacterial and fungal growth in low concentrations.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
