What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientSapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientNelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
Emulsifying2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Betaine, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Morus Nigra Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientBetaine
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningInositol
HumectantCalcium Pantothenate
Linoleic Acid
CleansingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPEG-35 Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Betaine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Inositol, Calcium Pantothenate, Linoleic Acid, Biotin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Lauroyl Lysine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Arachidyl Glucoside, Alcohol Denat., PEG-35 Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCitric 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 AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
We don't have a description for Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract yet.
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract comes from a yeast used in fermentation. It has skin conditioning properties due to its naturally occurring peptides, polysaccharides (including beta-glucans), amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.
Clinical research shows formulas that contain this ingredient can improve moisture levels and refine skin texture over time. This is associate with its ability to reduce free-radical activity and protect the skin against environmental damage.
Lab studies demonstrate that some peptide fractions in this ingredient possess antioxidant and anti-collegenase effects, helping to protect the structural proteins in skin and soothing inflammation.
Additionally, this ingredient has been shown to have antimicrobial effects against bacteria associated with acne.
Learn more about Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ExtractTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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