What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Swertia Chirata Extract
HumectantNarcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
Astringent
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Porphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningSucrose
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingGlycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingLactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningPearl Powder
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Isopentyldiol, Diglycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Swertia Chirata Extract, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Caffeine, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Sucrose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Gold, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Glycine Soja Protein, Lactis Proteinum, Pearl Powder, Acetyl Glucosamine, Saccharide Isomerate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Citric Acid, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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
