What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Pentylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Caffeine, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Acacia Decurrens Flower Cera, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Polyglycerin-3, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Urea
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGellan Gum
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sodium Phytate
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Coco-Caprylate, Urea, Glyceryl Stearate, Bacillus Ferment, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Hexylresorcinol, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Gellan Gum, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Ferulic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Phytate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
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 AcidGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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
