What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Xylitol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Lactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Tromethamine
BufferingBetaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Dipropylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Arginine, Xylitylglucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Anhydroxylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Xylitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Isostearate, Bisabolol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tranexamic Acid, Lactobacillus/Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Betaine Salicylate, Glycolipids, Gluconolactone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantCocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Isostearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Alumina
Abrasive
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Betaine, Rhamnose, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-100 Stearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Alumina, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Hexyldecanol, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891, Linalool, Parfum
Reviews
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 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium 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 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
