What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Inulin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Copper Gluconate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Galactoarabinan
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentLecithin
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingIsostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Magnesium Silicate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Thymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Silanetriol
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Morinda Citrifolia Callus Culture Lysate
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
Humectant
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Bixa Orellana Seed Extract
MaskingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Galactoarabinan, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Isostearyl Isostearate, Isopentyldiol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Zinc Chloride, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Sorbic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Morinda Citrifolia Callus Culture Lysate, Zinc PCA, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, T-Butyl Alcohol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Maltodextrin, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Tin Oxide, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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 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
