What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingLactic Acid
Buffering
Lens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Mandelic Acid, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Salicylic Acid, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Lactic Acid, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Sodium PCA, Xanthan Gum, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Citrate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC11-12 Isoparaffin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSqualane
Emollient
C15-23 Alkane
SolventArginine
Masking
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantC13-14 Alkane
SolventDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C11-12 Isoparaffin, Sodium Hydroxide, Squalane, C15-23 Alkane, Arginine, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Bisabolol, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, C13-14 Alkane, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs 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 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 HydroxideWater. 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
