What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Scenedesmus Deserticola Ferment Extract
HumectantLactobacillus/Aspergillus/Prunus Mume Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningShorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Scenedesmus Deserticola Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Aspergillus/Prunus Mume Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract, Parfum, 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.
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 AcidShorea Stenoptera Seed Butter isn't fungal acne safe.
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
