What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientLactic Acid
Buffering
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Enteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSantalum Album Extract
CleansingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Phytate
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Isohexadecane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethylhydroxy Furanone
MaskingVanillin
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Lactic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycolic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Riboflavin, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bakuchiol, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Santalum Album Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Oleate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Phytate, Glucose, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80, PEG-75 Stearate, Isohexadecane, Phenoxyethanol, Triethyl Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethylhydroxy Furanone, Vanillin, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
