What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tricaprylin
Perfuming
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Lecithin
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Tricaprylin, Methylpropanediol, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Ferulic Acid, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Isododecane
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Zingerone
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Isododecane, Propanediol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Squalane, Tocopherol, Acetyl Zingerone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cellulose, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Cellulose Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Linalool, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
