What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenylpropanol
MaskingPelargonium Capitatum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Oleate
EmulsifyingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenylpropanol, Pelargonium Capitatum Leaf Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Caramel, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Hydroxide, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Tomato Skin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Algin
Phenylpropanol
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Flower Oil
PerfumingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Majorana Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Lactate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingLevulinic Acid
PerfumingAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Hydrolyzed Tomato Skin, Betaine, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Caprylyl Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Phenylpropanol, Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Sodium Lactate, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Benzoate, Levulinic Acid, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Levulinate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-51 Amide, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 AcidGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin 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 GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPhenylpropanol is a fragrance.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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