What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOlus Oil
EmollientCetyl Lactate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientCaprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientJojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningDilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer
EmollientSqualene
EmollientOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl Sunflowerseedate
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phytosterols
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Olus Oil, Cetyl Lactate, Propanediol, C12-16 Alcohols, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer, Squalene, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phytosteryl Sunflowerseedate, Glycine Soja Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phytosterols, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Gluconolactone, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCocoglycerides
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
EmollientVaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Distearate
Emulsifying4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGalactoarabinan
Bisabolol
AntioxidantCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingYeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantInositol
HumectantTaurine
BufferingBetaine
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantHexyldecanol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingXylitol
HumectantCaprylic Acid
CleansingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Squalane, Glycerin, Cocoglycerides, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Isopentyldiol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Niacinamide, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Polyglyceryl-10 Distearate, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Allantoin, Galactoarabinan, Bisabolol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hexyldecanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Stearic Acid, Xylitol, Caprylic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Limonene, 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 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol 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