What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract
EmollientPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tapioca Starch, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 42090, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOleyl Alcohol
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ascorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantAvena Strigosa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDextran
Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHexyldecanol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
BufferingLecithin
EmollientLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingPinus Nigra Bud/Needle Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Gluceptate
Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTrifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Oleyl Alcohol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Distarch Phosphate, Triheptanoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Avena Strigosa Seed Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Dextran, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hexyldecanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lactic Acid, Lecithin, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Pinus Nigra Bud/Needle Extract, Sodium Gluceptate, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPotassium 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