What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Colloidal Sulfur
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hectorite
AbsorbentC10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHypochlorous Acid
Antiseborrhoeic
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Kaolin, Colloidal Sulfur, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Hectorite, C10-18 Triglycerides, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Azelaic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Zinc PCA, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Allantoin, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Bisabolol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Panthenol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Charcoal Powder, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Hypochlorous Acid, CI 77288
Water
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Silanetriol
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Mandelic Acid, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Panthenol, Glycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caramel
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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
