What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Tribehenin
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Propanediol, Tribehenin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium Benzoate, Ceramide NP, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Tocopherol, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosphingosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Caramel, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ceramide EOP, Glycosphingolipids
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycerinSodium 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
