What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosa Gallica Flower Powder
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Extract
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Sodium Citrate, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tocopherol, Rosa Gallica Flower Powder, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Rosa Damascena Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Centifolia Flower
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Rosa Damascena Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosa Centifolia Flower, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Rosa Damascena Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Caramel, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin
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 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 GlycerinRosa Damascena Extract comes from the Damask rose.
The Damask Roses' petals have been found to help sooth skin. The petals also contain antioxidant compounds.
Rosa Damascena Extract is a tonic. Tonics are used to remove soap residues. They also help moisturize the skin.
Learn more about Rosa Damascena ExtractSodium 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
