What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsoceteth-20
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingPEG-8
HumectantPropylene Glycol Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Kluyveromyces/Lactobacillus/Lactococcus/Leuconostoc/Saccharomyces Milk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactic Acid, Coco-Glucoside, PEG-8, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Kluyveromyces/Lactobacillus/Lactococcus/Leuconostoc/Saccharomyces Milk Ferment Filtrate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Myristyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Behenyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Octyldodecanol, Ceramide Ng, Sorbitan Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Mica, CI 77891
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 (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin 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 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 âglueâ 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 donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre 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 skinâs 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 productâs 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 AcidSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
