What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingUndecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTridecane
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Trisodium EDTA
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Carnitine
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Serine, Triethylhexanoin, Undecane, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sclerotium Gum, Tridecane, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Behenyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Trisodium EDTA, Arachidyl Glucoside, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Arginine, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Ceramide NP, Carnitine, Cholesterol, Salicylic Acid, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningMannitol
Humectant
Tridecapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Mannitol, Tridecapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ergothioneine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bisabolol, Sodium Gluconate, Decylene Glycol, Ferulic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Tocopherol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
