What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sambucus Nigra Flower Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Polysorbate 20, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract
MaskingBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingInulin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Enteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Artemisia Pallens Flower Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Peumus Boldus Leaf Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Lactobacillus, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Artemisia Pallens Flower Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.
The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.
In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.
The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.
Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
