What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningArbutin
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHypericum Perforatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingWater, Arbutin, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Hyaluronic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Panthenol, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Hypericum Perforatum Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Triethanolamine
Water
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Acetate
BufferingCitrus Grandis Peel Water
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCellulose
AbsorbentErythritol
HumectantCarrageenan
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Alpha-Arbutin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Triethanolamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Acetate, Citrus Grandis Peel Water, Sodium PCA, Isopropyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Cellulose, Erythritol, Carrageenan, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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