What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Glycereth-7 Triacetate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Myristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentHydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycereth-18
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingDenatonium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Glycereth-7 Triacetate, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Dipropylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Gluconolactone, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Myristyl Nicotinate, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Adenosine, Asiaticoside, Ethoxydiglycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycereth-18, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calcium Gluconate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Limonene, Sodium Carbonate, Denatonium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Nardus Oil
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingLactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Melo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Hesperidin
EmollientPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Water, Methyl Gluceth-20, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Methyl Gluceth-10, Polyglycerin-3, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Cymbopogon Nardus Oil, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Mentha Viridis Extract, Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract, Geraniol, Citronellol, Coptis Japonica Extract, Cucumis Melo Seed Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Glucose, Beta-Glucan, Linalool, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Cetyl Palmitate, Ubiquinone, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ergothioneine, Hesperidin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitric 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 EthylhexylglycerinGluconolactone 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 (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 GlycerinSodium 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
