What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientSerine
Masking
Polylysine
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingUrea
Buffering
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantAlgin
Masking
Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Pullulan
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Serine, Polylysine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Urea, Trehalose, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Algin, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl, Lecithin, Pullulan, Pentylene Glycol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Erythritol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Kaolin
Abrasive
Illite
Abrasive
Collagen
Moisturising
Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Betaine, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Erythritol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Kaolin, Illite, Collagen, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Squalane, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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 AcidCollagen is the most abundant type of structural protein found in your body. It is an effective skin moisturizer.
There is no conclusive proof that collagen is used by skin when applied topically. However, it is a great humectant that hydrates skin. Hydrated skin is associated with increased elasticity and a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles. It is also essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
Biologically, collagen is responsible for keeping skin firm and youthful. Collagen is comprised mostly of glycine, proline, and hydroxypoline. These are amino acids.
Collagen will not increase sun sensitivity, but you should always wear sunscreen during the day.
Learn more about hydrolyzed collagen here.
Learn more about CollagenWe don't have a description for Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate yet.
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 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 GlycolSodium 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 BenzoateSodium 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
