What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water 20%
AntimicrobialPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingSalicylic Acid
MaskingTromethamine
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSea Water
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantGlucose
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingOriganum Majorana Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Madecassoside
AntioxidantGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingValine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
AntioxidantWater, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water 20%, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, C12-14 Pareth-12, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Allantoin, Decyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tromethamine, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Sea Water, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Panthenol, Asiaticoside, Glucose, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Ceramide NP, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Madecassoside, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingOryza Sativa Seed Protein
AntioxidantOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTrideceth-9
EmulsifyingBisabolol
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentCalcium Gluconate
HumectantPhytic Acid
Citric Acid
BufferingWater, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Sodium Citrate, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Oryza Sativa Extract, Niacinamide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, Bisabolol, Gluconolactone, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Gluconate, Zea Mays Starch, Calcium Gluconate, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid
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 AcidGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water