What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Myrtrimonium Bromide
Preservative
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialParfum
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingLactic Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingLinalool
Perfuming
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Phosphate, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Dipotassium Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Myrtrimonium Bromide, Benzophenone-4, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Morus Alba Root Extract, Linalool, CI 42090, CI 19140
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingMaris Aqua
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf/Stem Oil
Antioxidant
Mentha Piperita Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Bursera Graveolens Wood Oil
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Globularia Alypum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Tetraselmis Suecica Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHydrolyzed Algin
Santalum Album Oil
Masking
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Water, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Maris Aqua, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Levulinate, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf/Stem Oil, Mentha Piperita Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Bursera Graveolens Wood Oil, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Globularia Alypum Leaf Extract, Sodium Phytate, Tetraselmis Suecica Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydrolyzed Algin, Santalum Album Oil, Sodium Surfactin, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool, Farnesol, Eugenol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPotassium 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 SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
