What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingTridecyl Stearate
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientSantalum Album Extract
CleansingPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningDicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Ursolic Acid
MaskingPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silanetriol
Rhamnose
HumectantLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Methylpropanediol
SolventUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Pentylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Dimethicone, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Tridecyl Stearate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Santalum Album Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Dicetyl Phosphate, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Squalane, Ursolic Acid, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethoxydiglycol, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silanetriol, Rhamnose, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Lecithin, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Sorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Methylpropanediol, Ubiquinone, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
