What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAcetamidoethoxyethanol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Heparan Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Erythritol
Humectant
Carrageenan
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSorbic Acid
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Acetamidoethoxyethanol, Glycerin, Panthenol, Heparan Sulfate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium PCA, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Erythritol, Carrageenan, Pentylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Anisate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Levulinate, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sorbic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Pullulan
Dextran
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76, Bisabolol, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Squalane, Pullulan, Dextran, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
