What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Retinyl Propionate
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
BHA
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Benzyl Cinnamate
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Retinyl Propionate, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Glyceryl Behenate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polysorbate 20, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, O-Cymen-5-Ol, BHT, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, BHA, Glyceryl Oleate, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Parfum, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, Benzyl Cinnamate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Cinnamyl Alcohol
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 AcidPentylene 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 GlycolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
