What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lauryl Glucoside, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Anhydroxylitol, Lactobacillus, Levulinic Acid, Maltodextrin, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Sodium Levulinate, Xylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, Parfum, Citronellol, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
Glycerin
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPolysorbate 85
Emulsifying
C9-12 Alkane
SolventSqualane
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Squalene
Emollient
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Water, Heptyl Undecylenate, Polysorbate 85, C9-12 Alkane, Squalane, C13-15 Alkane, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Caffeine, Sorbitol, Squalene, Phytosterols, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Tocotrienols, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Alternatives
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 GlycerinSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
