What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 PCA
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningSodium Surfactin
CleansingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Betaine, Pantolactone, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-3 PCA, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Sodium Surfactin, Lactic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Coco-Sulfate
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Chloride
Masking
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningSqualene
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Propanediol, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Chloride, Lysolecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beta-Sitosterol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Squalene, Xylitol, Glyceryl Oleate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Coco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin 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 âglueâ 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 donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre 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 skinâs 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 productâs 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 AcidWater. 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
