What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Olus Oil
Emollient
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Algae Extract
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingVaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Albatrellus Ovinus Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Olus Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Algae Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Carbomer, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Magnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Malachite Extract, Albatrellus Ovinus Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Glucose, Phenoxyethanol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Talc
Abrasive
Triticum Vulgare Starch
Abrasive
Kaolin
Abrasive
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningLanolin Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
Preservative
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPropylparaben
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicBHT
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Zinc Oxide, Talc, Triticum Vulgare Starch, Kaolin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cera Microcristallina, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Lanolin Alcohol, Sorbitol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cera Alba, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Glycine Soja Oil, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 80, Triethanolamine, Cellulose Gum, Methylparaben, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Diazolidinyl Urea, Panthenol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Propylparaben, Benzoic Acid, Magnesium Aspartate, Potassium Aspartate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sarcosine, Tocopherol, Sodium Chloride, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Biotin, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, CI 19140, CI 15985
Reviews
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 (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 Water
