What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantDimethyl Sulfone
SolventCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantArginine
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Extract
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Arginine, Carbomer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCitrus Sinensis Fruit Water
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSaccharum Officinarum Extract
Moisturising1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Sulfite
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Citrus Sinensis Fruit Water, Sodium Benzoate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, 1-Methylhydantoin-2-Imide, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Sodium Sulfite, Parfum, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Linalool, Geraniol, 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.
Glycerin (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 Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateSodium 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water