What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Propanediol
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycol Palmitate
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycol Palmitate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Triacontanyl Pvp, Lactobacillus, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantC15-19 Alkane
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Trehalose
Humectant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Alumina
Abrasive
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Glycerin, Polyester-8, Aluminum Stearate, C15-19 Alkane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Silica, Trehalose, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Alumina, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Diheptyl Succinate, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Citrate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate
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 GlycerinSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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 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
