What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPrunus Domestica Seed Extract
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPvp
Emulsion StabilisingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantSalix Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPhysalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Triticum Monococcum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Prunus Domestica Seed Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Pvp, Caffeine, Bisabolol, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Salix Alba Leaf Extract, Adenosine, Physalis Alkekengi Calyx Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Hydrolyzed Triticum Monococcum Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Phospholipids, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTapioca Starch
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Oleate
EmulsifyingMagnesium Sulfate
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGanoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAlanyl Glutamine
HumectantArginine
MaskingOligopeptide-177
Phenylalanine
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tapioca Starch, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Propanediol, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Maltodextrin, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Sodium Lactate, Xanthan Gum, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Oligopeptide-177, Phenylalanine, Potassium Sorbate, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil, Sodium Chloride, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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 GlycerinPotassium 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 SorbateJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum