What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-47
Skin Conditioning
Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPodocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingPsidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-47, Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract, Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Sodium Carrageenan, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Maris Sal, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Cellulose Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Ribose
HumectantLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningEllagic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientSodium Mannose Phosphate
HumectantMannose
HumectantLysine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Copper Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sea Water
HumectantC13-15 Alkane
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTropolone
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ectoin, Ribose, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Ellagic Acid, Ubiquinone, Lactobacillus Ferment, Inulin, Lecithin, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Asiaticoside, Astaxanthin, Ergothioneine, Glutathione, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Heptyl Undecylenate, Sodium Mannose Phosphate, Mannose, Lysine, Proline, Copper Sulfate, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Saccharide Isomerate, Sea Water, C13-15 Alkane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Sclerotium Gum, Tropolone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateWater. 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
