What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Squalane
Emollient
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
C8-22 Alkyl Acrylates/Methacrylic Acid Crosspolymer
Acrylates Copolymer
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Propyl Alcohol
Solvent
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Silica, Squalane, Cocoglycerides, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, C8-22 Alkyl Acrylates/Methacrylic Acid Crosspolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Ectoin, Decyl Glucoside, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Propyl Alcohol, Cetyl Phosphate, Cetyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Ubiquinone, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Glycereth-26, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Salicylate, Salicylic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
