What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Triethanolamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingInulin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Triethanolamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Acrylates Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane, Ectoin, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Maltodextrin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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
