What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingPPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Xylitylglucoside, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Xylitol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Maltose
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTrehalose
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Threonine
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Fructose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, PCA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Maltose, Ceramide NP, Serine, Alanine, Sodium Chloride, Trehalose, Glycine, Allantoin, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Arginine, Threonine, Tropolone, Glucose, Proline
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 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 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 GlycolSodium 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
