What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Diglycerin
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Algin
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Lecithin
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningLepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Diglycerin, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrolyzed Algin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Lecithin, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientMaltodextrin
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Taurine
BufferingBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Isomalt
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC9-12 Alkane
SolventDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Chloride
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Taurine, Bacillus Ferment, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Isomalt, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C9-12 Alkane, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Glyceryl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate, Sodium Phytate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Chloride, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Lecithin, Cyanocobalamin, Tin Oxide, CI 77491, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract yet.
Hydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs 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 PropanediolWater. 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
