What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialC15-19 Alkane
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glutathione
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAcacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Cera/Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientLecithin
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, C15-19 Alkane, Water, Glycerin, Sucrose Polystearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Bisabolol, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beta-Carotene, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Linoleic Acid, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Superoxide Dismutase, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glutathione, Linolenic Acid, Lactobacillus, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Cera/Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Lecithin, Ubiquinone, Capryloyl Glycine, Polysorbate 20, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Glucose Caprate/Caprylate/Oleate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingCocamidopropylamine Oxide
Cleansing
Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycereth-18
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Methyl Glucose Caprate/Caprylate/Oleate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate, Propanediol, Glycereth-18, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate, Decyl Glucoside, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Laurate, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
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
