What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propanediol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Algin
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seedcake Extract
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSantalum Album Wood Extract
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Decyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycol Distearate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Propanediol, Colloidal Oatmeal, Hydroxyacetophenone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Triethyl Citrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Agastache Mexicana Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lactic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seedcake Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Rose Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract
Reviews
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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 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
