What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Oleyl Erucate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Aloesin
Skin ConditioningHexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Persea Gratissima Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Glycerin, Oleyl Erucate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Polysorbate 60, Alcohol, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Aloesin, Hexylresorcinol, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Alcohol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Lactic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide DEA
Emulsifying
Isohexadecane
EmollientGlycolic Acid
Buffering
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Alteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol Oleate
EmollientGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Laureth-10
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Isohexadecane, Glycolic Acid, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Isopropyl Myristate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lactobacillus Ferment, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 80, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Butylene Glycol Oleate, Glycol Distearate, Tocopherol, Maltodextrin, Cocamide Mea, Laureth-10, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium 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 GlycerinIsopropyl Myristate is an ester made by combining isopropyl alcohol with myristic acid.
It is primarily an emollient and penetration enhancer that gives products a lightweight, silky feel without the heaviness of oils.
This ingredient is generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating, and has low absorption potential.
You might have heard that this ingredient clogs pores. This reputation comes from the older rabbit ear studies which are more sensitive than human skin to clogging.
Dermatologist Dr. Zoe Draelos has also confirmed in a peer-reviewed paper that products containing comedogenic ingredients are not necessarily comedogenic themselves.
A small subset of people (~2%) may experience contact sensitivity so patch testing is a reasonable idea if you have reactive skin.
Since this ingredient is an ester of myristic acid (a C14 fatty acid), it falls within the carbon chain range that is known to feed Malassezia. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isopropyl MyristateLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
